\ 


THRILLING  INCIDENTS 


or  THE 


COMPRISING     THE     MOST 


STRIKING  AND  REMARKABLE  EVENTS 


THE  REVOLUTION,  THE  FRENCH  WAR,  THE  TRIPOLITAH 

WAR,  THE  INDIAN  WAR,  THE  SECOND  WAR 

WITH  GREAT  BRITAIN,  AND  THE 

MEXICAN  WAR. 


WITH   THREE   HUNDRED    ENGRAVINGS. 


BY  THE  AUTHOR  OF 

"  THE  ARMY  AND  NAVY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES." 


NEW    YORK: 
PUBLISHED    BY   ROBERT    SEARS, 

181   WILLIAM   STREET. 

1853. 


PEEFACE. 


THE  purpose  of  the  writer  in  the  following  pages 
is  apparent  in  the  title-page.  He  has  selected, 
from  the  various  authentic  histories,  memoirs,  and 
reminiscences  which  have  appeared  during  the  last 
fifty  years,  the  narratives  of  those  events  which 
were  at  once  the  most  striking  and  important  in 
our  national  annals,  and  presented  them  in  a  col- 
lective form.  The  view  thus  exhibited,  bears  the 
same  relation  to  a  complete  and  connected  history 
that  a  sketch  does  to  a  finished  picture.  The  strong 
points  and  striking  features  only  are  represented; 
but,  at  the  same  time,  a  vivid  conception  is  afforded 
of  the  whole  subject.  The  imagination  of  the  reader 
receives,  perhaps,  a  livelier  impulse  from  the  sketch 
than  it  would  from  the  picture.  What  is  delineated 
suggests  more  to  the  active  fancy  than  if  the  de- 
lineator had  endeavoured  to  place  the  whole  upon 
i* 


vi  PREFACE. 

his  canvas ;  and  the  reader  is  more  agreeably 
occupied  in  filling  up  the  vacant  parts  by  his  own 
imaginative  or  recollective  faculty,  than  if  nothing 
had  been  wanting  to  render  the  picture  complete. 

The  author  has  found  his  task  an  agreeable  one. 
The  history  of  our  country  is  filled  with  incidents 
which  do  honour  to  the  American  character;  and 
every  true  patriot  must  feel  gratification  in  perusing 
the  records  of  those  heroic  and  disinterested  actions 
which  shed  light  and  glory  on  our  national  annals. 
If  the  following  pages  fail  to  render  full  justice  to 
those  who  have  deserved  well  of  their  country  by 
high  achievements  in  the  field  and  on  the  ocean, 
it  is  not  from  any  deficiency  of  zeal  in  the  cause. 

So  far  as  his  limits  would  permit,  the  author  has 
earnestly  endeavoured  to  render  all  honour  to  whom 
honour  is  due. 


CONTENTS. 


REVOLUTIONARY  WAR. 
Opening  of  the  Revolution,  .......     Page  13 

The  Boston  Massacre, 19 

Affair  of  the  Sloop  Liberty, 25 

Affair  of  the  Gaspee,         ........  29 

The  Tea  Riot, 34 

The  Boston  Port  Bill, 39 

The  First  Continental  Congress — Consequent  Parliamentary  pro- 
ceedings,          46 

Organization  of  the  Minute-Men, 56 

Patrick  Henry — Second  Provincial  Congress — First  Military  En- 
terprise,          •        .        .        .  .60 

Battles  of  Lexington  and  Concordj 67 

Battle  of  Bunker's  Hill, .  80 

Capture  of  Ticonderoga, 97 

Second  Continental  Congress — Washington's  Appointment, .        .  107 

Siege  of  Boston, 113 

Incidents  at  the  Evacuation  of  Boston, .        .        ,        .        .        .120 

Burning  of  Falmouth, 130 

Arnold's  Expedition  to  Quebec — Siege  of  Quebec,  and  Death  of 

Montgomery, 142 

Scenes  at  Quebec  during  the  Siege,  .......  151 

Expedition  against  Charleston, 165 

The  Declaration  of  Independence, 172 


Vlll  CONTENTS. 

The  Battle  of  Long  Island, 177 

Washington's  Retreat  through  New  Jersey — Capture  of  General 

Lee, 188 

Battle  of  Trenton,         .       .       .       .       .       .       •«     •       .193 

Battle  of  Princeton, 198 

Capture  of  General  Prescott,         .......  203 

Battle  of  Brandywine, 205 

Battle  of  Germantown,         .        . 210 

Battle  of  Red  Bank, 216 

Attack  on  Fort  Miffin— Retirement  of  the  Army  to  Valley  Forge,  219 

Battle  of  Bennington, 227 

Murder  of  Miss  M'Crea, 232 

Battle  of  Stillwater, 236 

Battle  of  Bemis's  Heights,  and  Retreat  of  Burgoyne,        .       .  244 

Capture  of  Forts  Clinton  and  Montgomery, 252 

Surrender  of  Burgoyne,     ........  258 

The  Treaty  with  France, 261 

Attack  on  Savannah,  and  Death  of  Pulaski,      ....  267 

Storming  of  Stony  Point, 272 

General  Sullivan's  Campaign  against  the  Indians,     .       .       »  276 

Tarleton's  Quarters, .  282 

Battle  of  Camden,  and  Death  of  De  Kalb,        .      '.       .       .  289 

Arnold's  Treason, 294 

The  Loss  of  the  Randolph,        .......312 

The  British  Prison-Ships, .        ,318 

Capture  of  the  Serapis, 325 

Putnam's  Feat  at  Horseneck,        .       .       ."""*'  .       .       .        ,331 

Battle  of  Eutaw  Springs,   ....       i       ...  334 

Wayne's  Charge  at  Green  Spring,        .       ;       ;       ;       .       .  343 

Capture  of  the  General  Monk,  .       .       .       .       i       ,       .  346 

The  Mutinies,       •        •        .        .       .       i       ,       •    -  •       .  353 

Battle  of  the  Cowpens,     .       .       .       .       ;       •  ^  •       .  361 

Capture  of  New  London,      ......;.  367 

Massacre  of  Wyoming,     ...;;.  370 
Surrender  of  Cornwallis,       ...;..                ,379 


CONTENTS.  IX 
WAR  WITH  FRANCE. 

Capture  of  L'Insurgente, 383 

The  Constellation  and  Vengeance, 386 

WAR  WITH  TRIPOLI. 

Burning  of  the  Philadelphia, 393 

Bombardment  of  Tripoli, 398 

Loss  of  the  Intrepid, 406 

Expedition  of  General  Eaton,    .        .       .       •       .       •       .  413 

SECOND  WAR  WITH  ENGLAND. 

Battle  of  Tippecanoe,  .        .        . 416 

Capture  of  the  Guerriere, 429 

Tragical  Affair  of  an  Indian  Chief,       ......  435 

Battle  and  Massacre  at  the  River  Raisin,  .       .       .       .       .  441 

Captain  Holmes's  Expedition,       .......  446 

Capture  of  the  Caledonia  and  Detroit,       .....  451 

The  Wasp  and  Frolic, .        .456 

Gallant  Conduct  of  Lieutenant  Allen  at  the  Capture  of  the  Mace- 
donian,         463 

Capture  and  Destruction  of  the  Java, 467 

Siege  of  Fort  Meigs, 470 

Capture  of  York,  and  Death  of  General  Pike,      «...  473 

Defence  of  Sackett's  Harbour,  .......  477 

Defence  of  Fort  Stephenson,        .       .       .       ,       .       .       .481 

Battle  of  Lake  Erie, ,       .       .  486 

Battle  of  the  Thames, .        .496 

Gallant  Action  of  Commodore  Chauncey  under  the  guns  of 

Kingston  Citadel, 505 

The  Sacking  of  Hampton,         .......  508 

Capture  of  the  Peacock, .       .513 

Massacre  at  Fort  Mimms,         .......  520 

Surrender  of  Weatherford,    .       .       , 526 

Battle  of  Niagara,      .        •••••••.  530 

Battle  of  New  Orleans, 536 


X  CONTENTS. 

WAR  WITH  MEXICO. 
Battle  of  Palo  Alto,       .        .        .        . 
Battle  of  Resaca  de  la  Palma.  .        .        .        . 

Capture  of  Monterey, 

Battle  in  the  Streets  of  Monterey,      .        .        . 
Thrilling  Scenes  in  the  Battle  of  Buena  Vista, 
Bombardment  of  Vera  Cruz,      .... 
Battle  of  Cerro  Gordo,  ....        . 
Battles  of  Contreras  and  Churubusco,        .        . 
Storming  of  Chapultepec,     .         .        .        .        , 


543 

548 
555 
562 
570 
575 
581 
585 
593 


LIST  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


/wwwwvwvwwwww 


Battle  of  Contreras,  Frontispiece 
Boston  Massacre,  .  .  Page  19 
Samuel  Adams,  ...  23 
John  Hancock,  •  .  .  25 
Burning  of  the  Gaspee,  .  .  31 
The  Tea  Riot,  ...  35 
FaneuilHall,  ....  39 
Lord  George  Germain,  .  .  43 
Carpenter's  Hall,  Philadelphia,  46 
Lord  Chatham,  ...  50 
Colonel  Pickering,  ...  60 
Patrick  Henry,  ...  62 
Battle  of  Lexington,  .  .  67 
Battle  of  Concord  Bridge,  .  72 
Retreat  from  Concord,  .  .  74 
Earl  Percy,  ....  76 
Bunker's  Hill  Monument,  .  80 
Battle  of  Bunker's  Hill,  .  .  81 
General  Warren,  ...  86 
Ruins  of  Ticonderoga,  .  .  95 
Surprise  of  Ticonderoga,  .  100 
Washington,  ....  106 
Siege  of  Boston,  .  .  .112 
Boston  as  seen  from  Dorchester,  122 
Burning  of  Falmouth,  .  .  132 
General  Arnold,  .  .  .  135 
General  Montgomery,  .  .  143 

Quebec, 150 

Sir  Guy  Carleton,  .  .  .151 
Funeral  of  Montgomery,  .  159 
Attack  on  Fort  Moultrie,  .  164 
Sir  Peter  Parker,  .  .  .165 


Independence  Hall,  Philadelphia,  172 
Retreat  from  Long  Island,  .  185 
General  Charles  Lee,  .  .  188 
General  Knox,  .  .  .193 
Battle-Ground  at  Trenton,  .  198 
Washington's  Head- Quarters  at 

Morristown,  .  .  .  202 
Costume  of  British  Naval  Offi- 
cer, 1777,  .  .  .209 
General  La  Fayette,  .  .  210 
Battle  of  Germantown,  .  .  214 
Battle  of  Red  Bank,  .  .  216 
Encampment  at  Valley  Forge,  219 

Fort  Mifflin 221 

General  Stark,  .  .  .226 
Battle  of  Bennington,  .  .  227 
Murder  of  Miss  M'Crea,  .  232 
General  Schuyler,  .  .  .  236 
Burgoyne's  Encampment  on  the 

Hudson,  ....  238 
General  Gates,  .  .  .  243 
Burgoyne's  Retreat  up  the  Hudson  249 

Fort  Clinton 254 

Silas  Deane,  ....  261 
Signing  of  the  Treaty  with  France  264 
Death  of  Pulaski,  ...  267 
Storming  of  Stony  Point,  .  272 
General  Sullivan,  .  .  .276 
Sullivan's  Expedition  against  the 

Indians,  ....  278 
Tarleton's  Quarters,  .  .  284 
Battle  of  Camden,  ...  288 


Xll 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Major  Andre",         .        .       .  294 

Capture  of  Andre,          .       .  299 

Captain  Biddle,      .        .       .  312 

Loss  of  the  Randolph,    >       .  314 

Prison-Ship 320 

Commodore  Jones,  ^  *  .  325 
Capture  of  the  Serapis,  .  327 
Putnam's  Feat  at  Horseneck,  331 
General  Greene,  ...  334 
Wayne's  Charge,  .  .  342 
General  Wayne,  ...  343 
Commodore  Barney,  .  .  346 
Capture  of  the  General  Monk,  348 
Wayne  and  the  Mutineers,  .  352 
Battle  of  the  Cowpens,  .  360 
General  Morgan,  .  .  .  364 
Burning  of  New  London  by  Ar- 
nold, ....  366 
Ruins  of  Wyoming,  .  .  370 
Massacre  of  Wyoming,  .  372 
Surrender  of  Cornwallis,  .  378 
General  Lincoln,  .  .  .  379 
Commodore  Truxtun,  .  .  386 
Constellation  and  Vengeance,  388 
Burning  of  the  Philadelphia,  392 
Commodore  Decatur,  .  .  393 
Commodore  Preble,  .  .  398 
Bombardment  of  Tripoli,  .  400 
Loss  of  the  Intrepid,  .  .  408 
General  Eaton,  .  .  .  413 
General  Harrison,  .  .  416 
Battle  of  Tippecanoe,  .  .  425 
Constitution  and  Guerriere,  .  429 
Commodore  Jones,  .  .  456 
Wasp  and  Frolic,  .  .  .  459 
Lieutenant  Allen,  .  .  463 
Commodore  Bainbridge,  .  467 
Sortie  from  Fort  Meigs,  .  470 
General  Pike,  .  .  .  473 


General  Brown,  .  .  .477 
Defence  of  Fort  Stephenson,  481 
Commodore  Perry,  .  .  486 
Battle  of  Lake  Erie,  .  .  492 
Battle  of  the  Thames,  .  .  496 
Citadel  of  Kingston,  from  the  St. 

Lawrence,  ...  504 
Commodore  Chauncey,  .  505 
Burning  of  Hampton,  .  .  510 
Captain  Lawrence,  .  .  513 
Sinking  of  the  Peacock,  .  516 
Weatherford,  ...  520 
Defence  of  Fort  Minims,  .  523 
General  Jackson,  .  .  .  526 
General  Scott,  ...  530 
General  Brown  receiving  the 
Communication  of  Major 
Jones,  ....  534 
Battle  of  New  Orleans,  .  536 
New  Orleans,  ....  539 
General  Taylor,  ...  543 
Death  of  Ringgold,  .  .  547 
Captain  Walker,  ...  548 
M' Call's  Advance  at  Resaca  de 

laPalma,  ....  550 
Cavalry  Charge  at  Monterey,  556 
Colonel  Jack  Hays,  .  .  557 
General  Worth,  ...  562 
Street-Fight  in  Monterey,  .  564 
Santa  Anna,  ....  570 
American  Fleet  saluting  the  Cas- 
tle at  Vera  Cruz  after  the 
Surrender,  .  .  .  575 
Bombardment  of  Vera  Cruz,  578 
Storming  of  the  Heights  at  Cer- 

ro  Gordo,  .  .  .  583 
Guerillas  plundering,  .  .  586 
Paredes,  ....  593 
Storming  of  Chapultepec,  .  596 


OPENING  OF  THE  REVO- 
LUTION. 

LONG  before  the  passage 
of  Grenville's  Stamp  Act, 
Great  Britain  had  given  cause 
of  complaint  to  her  colonies 
by  restricting  each  province 
to  the  use  of  its  own  manu- 
factures, and  preventing  the 
reciprocal  importation  of  their 
respective  fabrics — thus  com- 
pletely discouraging  all  manu- 
factures. To  prevent  a  whole 
people  from  following  any 

\^  branch  of  industry,  is  a  mea- 
sure which  human  nature  can- 
not bear  with  tame  submission. 


REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 


Nor  was  the  severity  of  the  act  ameliorated  by  the 
representations  of  the  ministry  that  the  articles  pro- 
hibited could  be  imported  cheaper  from  England 
The  injury  felt  by  the  measure  was  not  at  the  time 
of  much  consequence ;  but  the  regulation  was  in  itself 
considered  an  insult  to  the  understanding,  more  into- 
lerable than  pecuniary  oppression. 

The  discontent  arising  from  this  restriction  would 
in  all  probability  have  passed  away,  had  it  not  been 
succeeded  by  deprivations  of  a  more  serious  nature  to 
the  colonies.  These  were  the  orders  of  Parliament 
(1755),  restricting  the  American  trade  with  the  West 
Indies,  which  had  hitherto  been  a  source  of  large 

o 

revenue.  The  prohibition  of  so  profitable  a  com- 
merce shook  the  vitals  of  American  prosperity,  and 
distressed  the  manufacturers  and  merchants  of  Eng- 
land. The  servile  complaisance  which  Great  Britain 
showed  to  Spain  by  these  orders,  and  the  unwise 
policy  of  oppressing  her  own  subjects  to  oblige  for- 
eigners, were  complained  of  by  the  people  of  England 
as  well  as  by  the  Americans.  But  the  king  and  min- 
istry refused  to  listen  to  the  voice  of  justice,  and  con- 
tinued to  pursue  that  system  which  eventually  recoiled 
upon  themselves. 

The  peace  of  1763  terminated  a  war,  which  was 
both  advantageous  and  glorious  to  Great  Britain. 
The  treaty  of  Paris,  besides  ceding  to  her  several 
islands  in  the  West  Indies,  and  establishing  her  power 
in  the  East,  gave  her  the  sovereignty  of  the  vast 
continent  of  America,  from  Florida  to  the  Arctic 
Seas. 

The  expenses  of  the  previous  war  had,  however, 


OPENING    OF    THE    REVOLUTION.  15 

been  immense.  In  order  to  meet  them  and  liquidate 
to  some  degree  the  national  debt,  resolutions  were 
adopted  by  the  ministry  to  tax  the  colonies  on  certain 
articles  of  importation.  Their  ability  to  pay  these 
taxes  was  not  doubted ;  and  it  was  considered  proper 
that  those  who  enjoyed  so  many  advantages  should 
contribute  their  portion  towards  bearing  the  public 
burdens. 

The  colonists,  however,  were  fully  persuaded  that 
whatever  might  be  the  necessities  of  the  mother 
country,  yet,  exclusive  of  the  restrictions  laid  during 
late  years  on  their  commerce,  the  sole  enjoyment  of 
their  trade  was  a  tax  in  itself  more  in  proportion 
than  all  that  were  levied  on  the  people  of  Great 
Britain.  The  right  of  taxing  them  without  their  being 
represented  in  the  British  Parliament,  they  denied  as 
resolutely  as  their  ancestors  did  the  payment  of  ship- 
money  to  Charles  I. ;  at  the  same  time  claiming  the 
privilege  of  representation  as  their  undoubted  birth- 
right. 

The  ministry  expressed  astonishment  at  hearing 
such  language  from  the  colonists,  charging  them  with 
ingratitude  and  disloyalty,  and  with  being  solicitous 
only  to  profit  by  the  generosity  of  the  mother  coun- 
try. The  Americans  repelled  these  unfounded  charges 
with  indignation.  They  gloried  in  calling  Britain 
their  mother  country  ;  they  had  never  disgraced  the 
title ;  they  had  ever  obeyed  her  just  and  lawful  com- 
mands ;  and  they  submitted,  for  her  benefit,  to  heavy 
burdens  and  commercial  restrictions.  They  referred 
for  proof  of  these  assertions  to  their  expeditions 
against  Louisbourg  and  Spanish  America,  and  to  the 


16  REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 

bravery  displayed  in  the  war  against  the  French  in 
North  America. 

In  their  petition  they  assured  the  king,  that  not- 
withstanding their  sufferings,  they  retained  too  high  a 
regard  for  the  kingdom  from  which  they  derived  their 
origin  to  request  anything  which  might  be  inconsistent 
with  her  dignity  or  welfare.  "  These,"  they  observed, 
"  related  as  we  are  to  her,  honour  and  duty,  as  well 
as  inclination,  induce  us  to  support  and  advance." 
"  At  the  conclusion  of  the  last  war,  the  Genius  of 
England  and  the  spirit  of  wisdom,  as  if  offended  at  the 
ungrateful  treatment  of  her  sons,  withdrew  from  the 
British  councils,  and  left  the  nation  a  prey  to  a  race 
of  ministers,  with  whom  ancient  English  honesty  and 
benevolence  disdained  to  dwell."  They  did  not  com- 
plain of  Parliament,  for  it  had  done  them  no  wrong, 
"  but  solely  of  the  measures  of  ministers." 

In  1764,  a  bill  was  framed  laying  heavy  duties 
(payable  into  the  British  treasury  in  specie)  on  all  ar- 
ticles imported  into  the  colonies  from  the  French  and 
other  islands  in  the  West  Indies.  This  was  followed 
by  an  act  restraining  the  currency  of  paper  money. 
In  1765,  to  complete  the  link  so  unjustly  begun,  was 
passed  Grenville's  famous  Stamp  Act,  the  prelude  to 
the  most  tremendous  and  destructive  quarrel  that  had 
befallen  Britain  for  several  ages.  It  was  styled  "  the 
folly  of  England  and  ruin  of  America." 

The  colonists  were  now  completely  roused ;  but  at 
the  same  time  conducted  their  measures  with  great 
wisdom,  perseverance,  and  resolution.  They  united 
in  a  general  opposition  to  the  views  of  ministers,  who 
disregarded  their  petitions  and  the  statements  of  their 


OPENING'  OF  THE  REVOLUTION.  17 

agents ;  and  although  some  acts  favourable  to  the  com- 
merce of  the  colonies  were  passed,  the  people  became 
suspicious,  and  placed  no  reliance  on  the  good-will  of 
the  British  government.  They  especially  mistrusted 
the  king.  Resolutions  were  adopted  to  make  no 
further  importations  from  Great  Britain ;  and  so  far 
was  the  encouragement  of  domestic  manufactures 
persevered  in,  that  the  use  of  all  elegancies  was  laid 
aside,  and  the  eating  of  lamb  suspended  in  order  to 
encourage  the  raising  of  wool. 

In  1766  Parliament  repealed  the  Stamp  Act ;  thus 
affording  unequivocal  proof  of  the  folly  and  short- 
sightedness under  which  that  measure  was  passed. 
Intelligence  of  the  event  filled  the  colonies  with  exulta- 
tion ;  and  the  rude  domestic  articles  with  which  they 
had  long  served  themselves,  were  speedily  exchanged 
for  the  more  comfortable  ones  of  British  manufacture. 
But  the  mother  country  soon  showed  that  she  was 
by  no  means  disposed  to  yield  her  fancied  authority. 
In  that  year  Dr.  Franklin  was  expelled  from  the  Post 
Office  Department ;  and  in  the  next,  duties  were  im- 
posed on  tea  and  other  articles  of  importation.  The 
colonists  remonstrated  against  this  new  aggression, 
and  petitioned  the  king  in  every  possible  form ;  but 
their  efforts  were  treated  with  coldness  and  contempt. 
The  evil  star  of  Britain  had  arisen,  soon  to  wither 
her  dazzling  superiority  as  a  nation,  and  sever  her 
widely-extended  dominions  for  ever. 

The  colonial  remonstrances  against  this  measure 
were  regarded  by  the  ruling  powers  of  England  only 
with  anger  and  indignation.  Ministers  were  equally 
chagrined  and  astonished  to  find  that  a  great  portion 

2*  B 


18  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

of  the  British  nation  espoused  the  cause  of  America. 
But,  disregarding  all  opposition  to  Parliament,  all  re- 
monstrances of  the  colonists,  as  well  as  petitions  from 
the  United  Kingdom,  the  government  madly  proceeded 
in  the  prosecution  of  its  impracticable  schemes.  At 
this  period  the  fame  and  grandeur  of  Great  Britain 
were  so  great,  that  no  one  imagined  that  the  colonies 
would  presume  to  dispute  any  measure  dictated  by  the 
ministry.  The  splendid  triumphs  of  the  British  nation 
in  all  parts  of  the  world,  had  excited  the  jealousy  of 
Europe ;  and  the  idea  of  the  colonists  risking  a  trial 
of  prowess  with  the  armies  and  fleets  which  had  de- 
feated the  combined  strength  of  France  and  Spain, 
was  considered  presumptuous  and  visionary.  It  was, 
therefore,  matter  of  astonishment  to  learn  the  extraor- 
dinary and  resolute  conduct  of  the  Americans  in  op- 
posing the  restrictions  on  their  commerce,  and  the 
operation  of  the  Stamp  and  Tea  Acts.  From  the 
period  of  the  abolishment  of  the  Stamp  Act,  in  1766, 
until  the  cargoes  of  the  tea-ships  were  thrown  over- 
board, in  December,  1773,  included  a  period  of  seven 
years  of  solemn  resistance  to  arbitrary  power. 


THE  BOSTON  MASSACKE. 


N  1768,  three  British  regiments  arrived 
in  Boston,  for  the  purpose  of  assisting 
the  governor  and  civil  powers  in  main- 
taining peace.  This  greatly  increased 
the  discontents  of  the  colonists,  who 
looked  upon  the  soldiery  as  a  standing 
army,  sent  to  enforce  unjust  legislation. 
Mutual  jealousies  produced  unfortunate  disputes, 
which  increased  to  such  an  extent  as  to  threaten  the 
most  serious  consequences.  Each  day  gave  rise  to 
new  occurrences  which  augmented  the  animosity. 
Reciprocal  jealousies  soured  the  tempers  of  the  oppo- 
site parties,  and  were  followed  by  mutual  injuries. 
Events  were  verging  to  a  crisis — dark  and  fearful. 

At  length,  a  private  of  the  twenty-ninth  regiment, 
passing  along  (March  2d,  1770)  near  Mr.  John  Gray's 


20  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

rope-walk,  was  driven  away  by  the  populace  in  con- 
sequence of  having  resented  some  insulting  words. 
He  returned  soon  after  with  a  dozen  soldiers,  between 
whom  and  the  rope-makers  an  affray  ensued,  which 
terminated  in  the  defeat  of  the  former.  In  the  after- 
noon they  armed  themselves  with  clubs,  and  were  on 
the  way  to  renew  the  action,  but  were  stopped.  Many 
of  the  townspeople  were  so  enraged  at  this,  as  to 
determine  on  a  renewal  of  the  engagement  the  follow- 
ing Monday.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Elliot  was  informed  of 
this  on  Saturday,  and  also  that  the  city  bells  were  to 
be  rung  on  that  day  in  order  to  bring  the  inhabitants 
together.  It  does  not  appear  that  any  militia  were 
called  in  before  the  attack  upon  the  people,  or  that  any 
regular  plan  was  formed  for  compelling  the  British 
troops  to  move  from  the  town.  On  the  other  hand, 
it  is  absurd  to  suppose  that  there  was  a  settled  plot 
for  employing  the  soldiers  to  massacre  the  inhabitants. 
Yet  that  some  design  was  in  progress,  previous  to  the 
attack,  is  evident  from  the  subsequent  evidence  of 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Marshall : — "  The  bells  were  ring- 
ing, and  the  people  began  to  collect  as  they  do  at  the 
cry  of  fire.  I  had  a  mind  to  go  out ;  but  I  had  a  re- 
luctance, because  I  had  been  warned  not  to  go  out  that 
night  /" 

Between  seven  and  eight  o'clock,  on  the  evening 
of  the  5th,  numbers  of  men  came  from  the  southern 
part  of  the  town  with  sticks  and  other  weapons  in  their 
hands ;  at  the  same  time  about  two  hundred  ran  from 
the  north  section,  armed  in  the  same  manner,  and 
uttering  loud  execrations  against  the  soldiers.  Several 
parties  collected  in  Dock  Square,  and  about  nine  o'clock 


THE    BOSTON    MASSACRE.  21 

attacked  some  soldiers  belonging  to  Murray's  bar- 
racks. An  officer  immediately  appeared,  and  with 
much  difficulty  succeeded  in  getting  the  troops  under 
shelter,  and  restrained  them  from  firing.  Part  of  the 
mob  dared  the  soldiers  to  fire;  others  cried  fire,  in 
order  to  draw  more  people  toward  them;  and  soon 
after  the  city  bells  commenced  ringing  for  the  same 
purpose. 

As  the  soldiers  were  now  under  shelter,  several 
persons  endeavoured  to  persuade  the  mob  to  retire ; 
but,  instead  of  doing  so,  they  commenced  tearing  up 
the  stalls  of  the  market  place  in  Dock  Square.  After 
this  they  assembled  in  the  street,  and  were  addressed 
by  a  tall  man,  in  a  large  cloak  and  white  wig ;  after 
which  they  separated  into  three  divisions,  and  pro- 
ceeded by  different  roads  to  King  Street. 

Meanwhile  an  assault  was  made  upon  the  sentry 
at  the  custom-house.  It  was  commenced  by  a  boy, 
who  pointed  to  the  soldier  and  exclaimed  that  he  had 
knocked  him  down.  On  hearing  this,  about  twenty 
young  men  called  out,  "Kill  him!  Kill  him!  Knock  him 
down!"  and  came  so  near  as  to  oblige  the  sentry  to 
load  his  gun.  The  mob  then  pelted  him  with  snow- 
balls, pieces  of  ice,  and  other  missiles,  and  dared  him 
to  fire.  As  they  advanced  he  mounted  the  steps,  and 
knocked  at  the  door  for  admittance;  but  this  not 
being  opened,  and  the  people  pressing  nearer,  he  called 
to  the  main  guard  for  protection.  Captain  Preston, 
who  was  then  officer  of  the  day,  being  told  that  the 
ringing  of  the  bells  was  the  signal  for  the  inhabitants 
to  attack  the  troops,  repaired  to  the  main  guard ;  and 
learning  the  situation  of  the  sentry,  despatched  a 


22  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

corporal  and  six  men,  to  protect  both  him  and  the 
king's  chest  in  the  custom-house.  The  soldiers  march- 
ed with  their  pieces  unloaded,  followed  by  the  captain, 
to  prevent  disorder.  They  were  used  as  the  sentry 
had  been,  and  obliged  to  load  for  their  own  safety. 
The  shouts,  threats,  screams,  and  yells  of  the  mob, 
accompanied  by  the  ringing  of  bells,  alarmed  the 
soldiers,  who  began  exhorting  them  to  keep  off.  At 
this  moment,  a  gigantic  mulatto,  named  Attucks,  ac- 
companied by  about  a  dozen  persons  in  sailor  habits, 
reached  the  custom-house,  gave  three  cheers,  sur- 
rounded the  soldiers  and  struck  their  guns  with  clubs, 
at  the  same  time  crying  out,  "  Do  not  be  afraid  of 
them — they  dare  not  fire — kill  them,  kill  them — knock 
them  over,"  &c.  The  mulatto  aimed  a  blow  at  Captain 
Preston,  struck  down  one  of  the  guns,  and  seized  the 
bayonet  with  his  left  hand.  At  this  moment  some 
one  cried,  "Why  don't  you  fire  ?"  and  the  words  were 
scarcely  uttered,  before  the  fallen  soldier  sprang  to 
his  feet,  levelled  his  gun,  and  fired.  Attucks  fell  dead. 
In  a  few  seconds  another  fired,  and  was  followed  by 
five  in  quick  succession.  Three  persons  were  killed, 
five  dangerously  wounded,  and  a  few  slightly.  The 
mob  rushed  back  on  all  sides,  but  soon  after  returned 
to  carry  off  the  dead. 

The  whole  town  was  immediately  in  commotion. 
Drums  beat  to  arms,  bells  were  ringing  in  all  direc- 
tions, and  a  constant  cry  was  heard — "  To  arms  I  To 
arms !  Turn  out  with  your  guns  /"  The  governor, 
Mr.  Hutchinson,  prevailed  on  the  mob  to  disperse  for 
the  night;  but  on  the  following  morning  the  whole 
town  met  in  full  assembly,  and  appointed  a  committee 


THE    BOSTON    MASSACRE. 


Samuel   Adams. 


to  wait  upon  the  governor  with  the  following  message  • 
"It  is  the  unanimous  opinion  of  the  meeting  that 
nothing  can  rationally  be  expected  to  restore  the  peace 
of  the  town,  and  prevent  blood  and  carnage,  but  the 
immediate  removal  of  the  troops."  In  the  afternoon 
the  lieutenant-governor  received  a  similar  message 
from  about  three  thousand  people.  Mr.  Samuel 
Adams,  one  of  the  committee,  in  his  venerable  gray 
locks,  and  with  hands  trembling  -under  a  nervous 
affection,  told  Colonel  Dalrymple,  "If  you  can  re- 
move the  Twenty-ninth  regiment,  you  can  also  remove 
the  Fourteenth ;  and  it  is  at  your  peril  if  you  do  not !" 
Governor  Hutchinson  replied,  that  nothing  should 
ever  induce  him  to  order  the  troops  away ;  but  agreed 


24: 


REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 


to  leave  the  matter  to  Colonel  Dalrymple.  After  much 
altercation  and  tumult,  the  troops  were  removed. 

On  the  8th  of  March,  the  funeral  of  the  first  re- 
volutionary martyrs  took  place.  The  shops  were 
closed,  and  the  bells  of  Boston,  Charlestown,  and  Rox- 
bury  tolled  in  the  most  doleful  manner.  The  different 
processions  formed  a  junction  in  King  Street,  where 
the  soldiers  had  fired.  Hence  they  proceeded  through 
the  main  street,  accompanied  by  a  concourse  so  large 
that  the  ranks  walked  six  abreast,  followed  by  a  long 
train  of  carriages  belonging  to  the  principal  gentry 
of  the  town. 

On  the  24th  of  October,  Captain  Preston's  trial 
commenced,  and  was  followed  by  that  of  the  eight 
soldiers.  All  were  acquitted  except  two,  who  were 
convicted  of  manslaughter.  John  Adams  and  Josiah 
Quincy,  two  of  the  most  active  popular  leaders,  acted 
as  counsel  for  the  prisoners.  The  result  of  this  trial 
was  in  the  highest  degree  honourable  to  our  judiciary; 
demonstrating  that  amid  all  the  tumult  of  passion,  and 
deep  sense  of  recent  suffering,  justice  was  still  the 
only  aim  of  the  colonists. 


John  Hancock. 


AFFAIR  OF  THE  SLOOP  LIBERTY. 


T  had  been  the  practice  in 
every  quarter  of  British 
America  for  the  officers  of 
the  customs  to  allow  mer- 
chants and  shipmasters  to 
enter  in  the  custom-house 
books  only  a  part  of  their 
imported  cargoes,  and  to 


26  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

land  the  remainder  duty-free.  To  this  practice,  which 
became  so  inveterate  that  the  colonists  regarded  the 
advantage  accruing  from  it  as  a  right,  rather  than  an 
indulgence,  the  commissioners  resolved  to  put  a 
stop. 

A  sloop  called  the  Liberty,  belonging  to  Hancock, 
having  arrived  at  Boston  laden  with  wine  from  Ma- 
deira (June  10,  1768),  the  captain,  as  usual,  proposed 
to  the  tidewaiter  who  came  to  inspect  the  cargo,  that 
part  of  it  should  be  landed  duty-free ;  but,  meeting  a 
refusal,  laid  violent  hands  upon  him,  and,  with  the 
assistance  of  the  crew,  locked  him  up  in  the  cabin  till 
the  whole  cargo  was  carried  ashore.  The  next  morn- 
ing he  entered  a  few  pipes  of  the  wine  at  the  custom- 
house, as  having  formed  all  his  lading ;  but  the  com- 
missioners of  the  customs,  insisting  that  the  entry 
was  deceptive,  caused  the  sloop  to  be  arrested.  To 
secure  the  -capture,  it  was  proposed  that  the  vessel 
should  be  removed  from  the  wharf  and  towed  under 
the  guns  of  the  Romney  man-of-war ;  and,  by  the 
assistance  of  the  Romney's  boats,  this  was  accord- 
ingly performed,  in  spite  of  the  opposition  of  a  great 
assemblage  of  people,  who,  finding  their  remon- 
strances disregarded,  assaulted  the  custom-house  offi- 
cers with  a  violence  that  had  nearly  proved  fatal  to 
their  lives.  (June  12.) 

On  the  following  day,  the  populace,  again  as- 
sembling before  the  houses  of  the  collector,  comp- 
troller, and  inspector-general  of  the  customs,  broke 
their  windows,  and  then,  seizing  the  collector's  boat, 
dragged  it  through  the  town  and  burned  it  on  the 
common.  Their  violence,  whether  satiated  or  not, 


AFFAIR    OF    THE    SLOOP    LIBERTY.  27 

was  checked  at  this  point  by  the  flight  of  the  com- 
missioners and  other  officers  of  the  customs,  who, 
learning  that  renewed  assemblages  of  the  people  were 
expected,  and  believing  or  affecting  to  believe  that 
further  outrages  were  meditated  against  themselves, 
hastily  left  the  place,  and  took  refuge,  first  on  board 
the  ship- of -war,  and  afterwards  in  Castle  William. 
(June  13.) 

The  city,  meanwhile,  resounded  with  complaints 
of  the  insult  that  was  offered  to  the  inhabitants  in  re- 
moving the  sloop  from  the  wharf,  and  thus  proclaim- 
ing apprehensions  of  a  rescue.  These  complaints 
were  sanctioned  by  the  assembly,  who  declared  that 
the  criminality  of  the  rioters  was  extenuated  by  the 
irritating  and  unprecedented  circumstance  of  the 
seizure ;  but  added,  nevertheless,  that,  as  the  rioters 
deserved  severe  punishment,  they  must  beseech  the 
governor  to  direct  that  they  should  be  prosecuted,- 
and  to  proclaim  a  reward  for  their  discovery.  The 
rioters,  however,  had  nothing  to  fear ;  nor  was  any 
one  of  them  ever  molested. 

A  suit  for  penalties  was  afterwards  instituted 
against  Hancock  in  the  Court  of  Admiralty ;  but  the 
officers  of  the  crown,  finding  it  beyond  their  power  to 
adduce  sufficient  evidence  of  facts,  which,  though 
everybody  knew,  nobody  would  attest,  abandoned  the 
prosecution  and  restored  the  vessel.  The  conduct  of 
the  officers  in  taxing  the  people,  by  implication,  with 
the  purpose  of  rescue,  was  generally  condemned.  It 
was,  indeed,  remarked  by  the  few  who  ventured  to 
defend  it,  that  a  rescue  had  actually  taken  place  eigh- 
teen months  before.  But  to  this  the  advocates  of  the 


28  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

people  replied,  that  the  popular  temper  had  undergone 
a  change  since  then, — as  was  verified  by  the  fact  that 
no  subsequent  rescue  had  been  attempted ; — a  fact  the 
more  certain,  though  the  less  significant,  as  in  reality 
no  seizure  in  the  interim  had  been  made. 

Unluckily,  about  a  month  after  the  arrest  of  Han- 
cock's vessel,  a  schooner,  which  was  seized  with  a 
smuggled  cargo  of  molasses,  and  left  at  the  wharf 
under  the  care  of  the  custom-house  officers,  was 
boarded  during  the  night  by  a  numerous  body  of  men, 
who  easily  overpowered  and  confined  the  officers,  and 
carried  the  cargo  on  shore.  The  inhabitants  in 
general  were  greatly  scandalized  to  find  their  recent 
declarations  so  completely  falsified;  and  the  Select- 
men of  Boston,  sending  for  the  master  of  the  schooner, 
ordered  him  to  surrender  the  molasses  directly,  under 
pain  of  the  displeasure  of  the  town.  He  obeyed  this 
injunction  without  a  moment's  hesitation. 


AFFAIR  OF  THE  GASPEE. 

act  of  violence  committed  by 
the  colonists  of  Rhode  Island, 
excited  general  attention,  from 
its  significance  as  an  indication 
of  the  height  to  which  the  gene- 
ral current  of  American  senti- 
ment was  rising  (1772).    The 
commander  of  the  Gaspee,  an 
armed  British  schooner  stationed  at  Providence,  had 
exerted  much  activity  in  supporting  the  trade  laws 
3* 


30  REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 

and  punishing  the  increasing  contraband  traffic  of  the 
Americans ;  and  had  provoked  additional  resentment 
by  firing  at  the  Providence  packets,  in  order  to  com- 
pel them  to  salute  his  flag  by  lowering  theirs  as  they 
passed  his  vessel,  and  by  chasing  them  even  into  the 
docks,  in  case  of  refusal. 

The  master  of  a  packet  conveying  passengers  to 
Providence  (June  9),  which  was  fired  at  and  chased 
by  the  Gaspee  for  neglecting  to  pay  the  requisite  tri- 
bute of  respect,  took  advantage  of  the  state  of  the 
tide  (it  being  almost  high  water),  to  stand  in  so  closely 
to  the  shore,  that  the  Gaspee,  in  the  pursuit,  might  be 
exposed  to  run  aground.  The  artifice  succeeded; 
the  Gaspee  presently  stuck  fast,  and  the  packet  pro- 
ceeded in  triumph  to  Providence,  where  a  strong  sen- 
sation was  excited  by  the  tidings  of  the  occurrence, 
and  a  project  was  hastily  formed  to  improve  the  blow 
and  destroy  the  obnoxious  vessel.  Brown,  an  eminent 
merchant,  and  Whipple,  a  ship-master,  took  the  lead 
in  this  bold  adventure,  and  easily  collected  a  sufficient 
band  of  armed  and  resolute  men,  with  whom  they  em- 
barked in  whale-boats  to  attack  the  British  ship-of- 
war.  At  two  o'clock  the  next  morning  (June  10), 
they  boarded  the  Gaspee  so  suddenly  and  in  such 
numbers,  that  her  crew  were  instantly  overpowered, 
without  hurt  to  any  one  except  her  commanding 
officer,  who  was  wounded.  The  captors,  having 
despatched  a  part  of  their  number  to  convey  him 
together  with  his  private  effects  and  his  crew  ashore, 
set  fire  to  the  Gaspee,  and  destroyed  her  with  all  her 
stores. 

The  issue  of  this  daring  act  of  war  against  the 


-•-*> 


AFFAIR    OF    THE    GASPEE.  33 

naval  force  of  the  king  was  as  remarkable  as  the  en- 
terprise itself.  The  British  government  offered  a 
reward  of  five  hundred  pounds,  together  with  a  par- 
don if  claimed  by  an  accomplice,  for  the  discovery 
and  apprehension  of  any  person  concerned  in  the 
treasonable  attack  on  the  Gaspee  ;  and  a  commission 
under  the  great  seal  of  England  appointed  Wanton, 
the  governor  of  Rhode  Island,  Peter  Oliver,  the  new 
chief-justice  of  Massachusetts,  Auchmuty,  the  judge- 
admiral  of  America,  and  certain  other  persons,  to  pre- 
side upon  the  trial  of  the  offenders. 

But  no  trial  took  place.  Nobody  came  forward 
to  claim  the  proffered  reward ;  some  persons,  who 
were  apprehended  in  the  hope  that  they  might  be  in- 
duced by  threats  and  terror  to  become  witnesses,  were 
enabled  by  popular  assistance  to  escape  before  any 
information  could  be  extracted  from  them ;  and  in  the 
commencement  of  the  following  year,  the  commis- 
sioners reported  to  the  British  ministry  their  inability, 
notwithstanding  the  most  diligent  inquisition,  to  pro- 
cure evidence  or  information  against  a  single  indi- 
vidual. 


THE  TEA  KIOT. 


N  consequence  of  the  pertinacious 
and  successful  exclusion  of  tea, 
that  article  had  accumulated  in 
the  warehouses  of  the  India  Com- 
pany, occasioning  to  them  great 
loss.  It  was  accordingly  pro- 
posed, that  the  British  duty  of  a  shilling  a  pound 
should  be  drawn  back  on  the  import  into  America, 
where  one  of  only  threepence  was  to  be  imposed. 
The  colonists,  who  would  thus  procure  it  cheaper 
than  the  English,  might,  it  was  hoped,  be  gently 
manoeuvred  out  of  the  principle  for  which  they  so 


THE    TEA    RIOT.  37 

obstinately  contended.  It  was  almost  madness  to 
renew  in  any  shape  a  contest  in  which  the  government 
had  been  so  repeatedly  worsted;  though  this  was 
really  a  small  measure  to  issue  in  a  vast  rebellion, — 
a  slender  spark  to  kindle  such  a  mighty  conflagration. 
We  must  reproach  the  parliamentary  friends  of 
America,  that  they  sounded  no  note  of  alarm,  and 
this  momentous  vote  passed  in  the  usual  silent  and 
unregarded  manner. 

The  intelligence,  when  it  reached  the  colonies, 
strongly  roused  the  determination  of  the  popular  lead- 
ers. They  were  sensible,  as  is  admitted  by  all  their 
advocates,  that  if  the  tea  were  once  landed  and  offer- 
ed for  sale  at  the  cheap  rate  which  these  arrange- 
ments allowed,  nothing  could  prevent  its  being  bought 
and  consumed ;  a  circumstance  which  by  no  means 
indicates  a  very  fervid  zeal  among  the  mass  of  the 
people.  Large  vessels,  however,  were  already  cross- 
ing the  Atlantic,  laden  with  this  commodity,  the  in- 
troduction of  which  on  so  extensive  a  scale  would 
completely  break  up  their  grand  principle  of  non- 
taxation.  They  therefore  determined  to  exert  their 
utmost  efforts  to  prevent  the  landing ;  and  possessing 
a  paramount  influence  in  the  mercantile  ports,  ex- 
torted a  promise  from  the  consignee  to  refuse  it,  and 
thus  oblige  the  vessels  to  carry  back  their  lading. 
Unfortunately,  the  agents  at  Boston  rejected  this  de- 
mand, and  appealed  to  the  governor,  who  promised 
protection;  but  a  mob  was  quickly  collected,  their 
houses  were  broken  into,  and  themselves  compelled 
to  take  refuge  in  Castle  William.  On  the  other 

o 

hand,  the  governor  and  custom-house  officers  even 
4 


38  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

refused  to  permit  the  vessels  which  had  arrived  to 
depart  without  landing  the  tea.  A  general  meeting 
of  the  inhabitants  was  then  called,  when  resolutions 
were  entered  into  to  oppose  such  a  proceeding  j  and 
a  guard  was  appointed,  who  watched  night  and  day 
to  prevent  any  portion  of  the  cargo  from  being  sent 
ashore.  Some  time  after,  another  great  assemblage 
met  at  Faneuil  Hall,  where  one  party  recommended 
moderate  measures ;  but  the  majority  discovered  a 
violent  spirit,  and  some  undoubtedly  desired  to  urge 
on  steps  which  might  issue  in  a  total  rupture.  Mr. 
Quincy  warned  them,  that  a  spirit  was  now  necessary 
different  from  any  hitherto  displayed ;  they  were  ad- 
vancing to  "  measures  which  must  bring  on  the  most 
trying  and  terrible  struggle  this  country  ever  saw." 
The  captain,  who  now  sought  to  extricate  himself 
from  the  affair,  was  allowed  to  make  a  last  application 
to  the  governor  for  permission  to  depart ;  but  having 
returned  and  reported  a  refusal,  the  meeting  separated. 
Immediately  after,  the  harbour  was  thronged  by  a 
vast  multitude,  seventeen  of  whom,  disguised  as  Mo- 
hawk Indians,  went  on  board  the  ships,  took  full 
possession  of  them,  and  deliberately  emptied  the 
whole  of  their  cargoes  into  the  sea. 


Fanueil   Hall. 


but  he 
for  his 


THE  BOSTON  POET  BILL. 

HEN  intelligence  of  so  fla- 
grant an  outrage  as  the 
destruction  of  government 
stores  by  a  lawless  mob 
reached  Parliament,  mea- 
sures of  extreme  severity 
were  immediately  adopted. 
These  were  not  akin  to 
Lord  North's  disposition; 
was  probably  goaded  on  by  others,  reproached 
previous  concessions,  and  keenly  sensible  to 


40  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

this  total  failure  of  his  own  favourite  scheme.  Now, 
he  said,  was  the  time  to  stand  out,  to  defy  them,  to 
proceed  with  firmness  and  without  fear.  Boston  was 
the  centre  whence  all  the  present  disorders  emanated. 
It  had  been  the  ringleader  in  every  riot,  and  set 
always  the  example  which  others  only  followed.  To 
inflict  a  signal  penalty  on  this  city  would  be  to  strike 
at  the  root  of  the  evil.  He  quoted  several  instances, 
as  the  murder  of  Dr.  Lamb  in  London,  under 
Charles  II.,  and  the  execution  of  Captain  Porteous 
by  the  Edinburgh  mob,  in  which  a  whole  city  had 
been  punished  for  an  offence  committed  by  a  large 
body  of  its  inhabitants.  It  was  proposed,  therefore, 
that  the  port  of  Boston  should  be  closed,  and  no 
goods  allowed  to  be  either  shipped  or  landed. 

This  interdict  was  to  continue  till  the  citizens 
should  express  a  due  sense  of  their  error,  and  make 
full  compensation  to  the  company ;  when  the  crown, 
if  it  should  see  sufficient  reason,  might  restore  its  lost 
privileges. 

This  motion,  so  big  with  war  and  disaster,  when 
made  in  the  House  of  Commons,  met  with  such  eager 
concurrence,  that  the  very  few  who  attempted  oppo- 
sition could  not  without  extreme  difficulty  obtain  a 
hearing.  Alderman  Sawbridge  was  obliged  to  tell 
them,  that  though  he  could  not  speak  long,  he  could 
sit  long.  Even  Colonel  Barre,  the  standing  advocate 
for  America,  said  he  approved  of  this  measure  for  its 
moderation.  Some  zealous  supporters  of  authority 
indulged  in  the  most  imprudent  violence  of  invective 
against  the  Americans.  Mr.  Herbert  described  them 
as  a  strange  set  of  people,  from  whom  it  was  vain  to 


THE    BOSTON  PORT   BILL.  41 

expect  any  degree  of  reasoning ;  they  always  chose 
tarring  and  feathering.  Mr.  Montague,  second  son 
to  Lord  Sandwich,  attributed  their  boldness  to  the 
tame  counsels,  the  weak  and  unmanly  conduct  of 
ministers,  who  allowed  themselves  to  be  swayed  by 
a  faction  seeking  popularity  by  clamour,  and  com- 
posed of  the  "  vilest  excrement  of  the  earth."  Mr. 
Van  drew  still  greater  attention,  by  declaring  that 
the  port  ought  to  be  knocked  about  their  ears  and 
destroyed,  adding  the  quotation,  Addenda  est  Car- 
thago." 

The  second  reading  passed  without  a  division ; 
but  a  petition  was  then  presented  by  the  lord  mayor 
from  a  number  of  American  settlers  resident  in 
London.  It  urged  that  the  citizens  of  Boston  had 
not  been  heard  in  their  own  defence,  nor  redress 
sought  at  common  law.  The  place  was  not  walled, 
nor  held  any  executive  power,  and  the  offence  had 
not  even  been  committed  within  its  limits.  They 
proceeded,  in  very  bold  language,  to  observe  that  the 
attachment  of  their  countrymen  could  not  survive  the 
justice  of  Great  Britain, — a  violation  of  which  might 
extinguish  the  filial  sentiments  hitherto  cherished. 
Some  opposition  was  now  mustered,  Mr.  Fuller  pro- 
posing merely  the  imposition  of  a  fine.  Mr.  Burke 
began  that  series  of  splendid  orations  which  he 
devoted  to  the  cause  of  American  liberty.  He 
denounced  this  confounding  of  the  innocent  and 
guilty,  and  expressed  his  heartfelt  sorrow  at  the 
general  aspect  of  affairs ;  the  universal  resistance  of 
all  America ;  one  town  in  proscription,  the  rest  in 
rebellion ;  not  a  port  on  its  coast  where  goods  could 
4* 


42  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

be  landed  and  vended.  The  consequences  would  be 
dreadful,  nay,  he  was  afraid,  destructive ;  and  he 
gave  the  prophetic  warning,  that  ministers  would 
draw  upon  themselves  a  foreign  enemy  at  a  time 
they  little  expected. 

Two  former  governors,  Johnstone  and  Pownall, 
expressed  themselves  earnestly  in  favour  of  the 
Americans ;  the  former  declaring  he  had  advised  the 
company  against  sending  the  tea,  and  was  sure  the 
affair  would  issue  in  rebellion.  The  latter  excited 
the  laughter  of  the  house,  by  extolling  the  people  for 
their  love  of  order  and  peace.  But  it  is  remarkable, 
that  none  of  their  advocates  now  disputed  the  right 
of  taxation.  Mr.  Dowdeswell  referred  to  a  time  when 
this  had  been  doubted  by  persons  of  great  knowledge; 
now  there  was  no  such  opinion ;  the  policy  only  was 
questioned.  It  is  remarkable  that  Mr.  Fox  on  this 
occasion  made  his  first  appearance  in  parliamentary 
life,  by  objecting  to  the  power  vested  in  the  crown 
of  reopening  the  port ;  a  suggestion  which  was  not 
supported  by  either  party. 

The  bill  passed  without  a  division.  In  the  Lords, 
however,  it  encountered  a  stronger  opposition  from 
certain  noblemen  of  great  eminence  and  talent,  par- 
ticularly Rockingham,  Shelburne,  and  Richmond ;  but 
the  debates  have  not  been  preserved,  and  it  passed 
finally  without  any  protest. 

However  severe  this  measure,  it  seems  not  im- 
probable that,  had  the  minister  stopped  there,  affairs 
might  yet  have  been  adjusted.  Unhappily,  the  recol- 
lection of  the  advices  of  Bernard  and  Hutchinson,  the 
long  and  obstinate  opposition  of  -the  Massachusetts 


THE    BOSTOX    PORT    BILL. 


43 


Lord   George    Germain. 


government,  the  recent  outrage  doubtless  supported 
by  some  of  its  members,  impelled  to  a  determination 
of  proceeding  further,  and  divesting  Boston  of  those 
privileges,  certainly  ample,  which  it  had  hitherto 
enjoyed.  The  town-meetings  were  to  be  prohibited, 
unless  with  the  consent  of  the  governor,  who  was 
also  to  have  the  appointment  of  all  civil  officers, 
except  the  supreme  judges.  On  the  suggestion  of 
Lord  George  Germain,  who  warmly  seconded  the 
motion,  the  council  was  to  be  nominated  solely  by 
the  crown,  and  juries  to  be  chosen  in  a  less  popular 
manner.  All  the  advocates  of  America,  including 
Colonel  Barre,  and  others  who  had  acquiesced  in  the 
first  bill,  encountered  the  present  with  decided  hos- 


44  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

tility.  The  opposition  divided  against  it,  though 
mustering  only  sixty-four  to  two  hundred  and  thirty- 
nine.  In  the  Lords  it  was  resisted  with  greater 
energy,  and  voted  against,  though  only  by  twenty  to 
ninety-two ;  but  eleven  signed  a  protest. 

While  this  bill  was  going  through  its  stages,  the 
minister  crowned  the  whole  by  a  third,  respecting 
individuals  charged  with  offences  against  the  state. 
According  to  a  law  formerly  passed,  but  never  exe- 
cuted, they  might  be  conveyed  for  trial  either  to 
Britain  or  to  some  other  colony.  There  was  doubt- 
less little  prospect  in  New  England  of  convicting 
them  by  jury  for.  offences  in  which  their  countrymen 
generally  sympathized;  still,  the  being  removed  for 
trial  to  a  remote  country,  the  inhabitants  of  which 
were  generally  hostile,  was  a  measure  full  of  hardship 
and  terror.  Barre  denounced  it  as  big  with  misery 
and  apprehension  to  America,  and  of  danger  to  Great 
Britain.  Let  the  banner  of  rebellion  be  once  spread, 
and  the  British  were  an  undone  people.  Ministers 
were  urging  this  desperate,  this  destructive  issue,  and 
with  such  violence  as  if  insurrection  were  their  de- 
liberate purpose.  Alderman  Sawbridge  declared,  if 
the  provincials  submitted,  they  would  be  the  most 
abject  slaves  that  ever  the  earth  produced.  Pownall 
loudly  predicted  a  congress,  and  perhaps  a  war. 

At  the  same  time,  another  petition  was  presented 
by  the  resident  Americans,  describing  the  state  to 
which  these  bills  would  reduce  their  countrymen  as 
one  of  total  slavery.  While  boasting  of  their  loyal 
feelings,  and  their  horror  at  an  unnatural  contest, 
they  indicated  not  obscurely  that  such  must  be  the 


THE    BOSTON    PORT    BILL. 


45 


result  of  an  attempt  to  execute  these  laws.  The  bill, 
however,  passed  in  a  thinner  house,  but  with  even  a 
larger  majority  than  the  former,  one  hundred  and 
twenty-seven  to  twenty-four.  In  the  Lords,  though 
there  was  a  similar  opposition,  and  a  protest  by  eight 
peers,  it  was  carried  by  forty-nine  to  twelve. 


Carpenter's  Hall. 


FIRST  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS -CONSEQUENT 
PARLIAMENTARY  PROCEEDINGS. 


,-sM-^^fcfe^^.gg^  HE  Congress,  destined  to  change 
the  face  of  America,  met  at  Car- 
penter's Hall,  Philadelphia,  on 
the  5th  of  September,  1774. 
They  determined  that  their  de- 
liberations should  be  secret,  that 
the  results  should  be  given  to 
the  world  as  unanimous,  and  no 
difference  of  opinion  allowed  to 
transpire.  A  committee  was  immediately  appointed 
to  report  upon  the  rights  violated,  the  injuries  sus- 
tained, and  the  means  of  redress.  Separate  ones 


FIRST    CONTINENTAL   CONGRESS.  47 

were  afterwards  named  to  prepare  addresses  to  the 
people  of  Great  Britain,  to  the  king,  to  the  colonists, 
and  to  the  Canadians. 

These  documents  being  submitted  to  Congress, 
and  having  undergone  some  revisal  and  alteration, 
were  produced  to  the  world.  The  grievances  com- 
plained of  were  chiefly  the  imposition  of  taxes  by  the 
British  Parliament,  the  quartering  of  troops,  and  the 
several  acts  relating  to  Massachusetts.  Their  de- 
mand was,  to  be  replaced  in  exactly  the  same  state  as 
at  the  conclusion  of  the  last  war.  No  mention  was 
introduced  of  the  Pennsylvanian  conciliatory  propo- 
sitions,— the  voluntary  grant  of  a  revenue,  or  com- 
pensation to  the  company.  No  acknowledgment  was 
made  of  any  errors  committed  by  their  countrymen, 
requiring  apology  or  atonement.  They  merely  un- 
dertook to  provide  for  their  civil  government,  for  an 
effective  militia,  and  in  case  of  war,  to  exert  their 
most  strenuous  efforts  in  granting  supplies  and  raising 
men.  The  people  of  Massachusetts  were  strictly 
enjoined  not  to  submit  to  any  act  under  the  new 
constitution.  The  time,  however,  was  considered  not 
yet  come  for  resisting  by  force.  They  were  to  make 
an  attempt  to  gain  their  objects  by  a  solemn  engage- 
ment, that,  after  the  1st  of  December,  1774,  no  article 
should  be  imported  from  the  mother  country  or  her 
colonies ;  and  if,  by  the  10th  of  September,  1775,  their 
demands  were  not  satisfied,  all  exports  to  these 
quarters  should  cease. 

In  the  petition  to  the  king,  their  expressions  of 
duty  and  loyalty  were  strong, — more  so  than  in  the 
first  draft,  which,  in  this  respect,  was  considered 


48  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

deficient.  To  the  people  of  Britain  they  expressed 
an  ardent  desire  to  maintain  the  union  as  their 
greatest  glory  and  happiness,  and  to  contribute  with 
their  utmost  power  to  the  welfare  of  the  whole 
empire.  They  concluded,  however, — "  but  if  you  are 
determined  that  your  ministers  shall  wantonly  sport 
with  the  rights  of  mankind ;  if  neither  the  voice  of 
justice,  the  dictates  of  the  law,  the  principles  of  the 
constitution,  or  the  suggestions  of  humanity,  can 
restrain  your  hands  from  shedding  human  blood  in 
such  an  impious  cause,  we  must  then  tell  you,  that 
we  will  never  submit  to  be  hewers  of  wood  or 
drawers  of  water  for  any  ministry  or  nation  in  the 
world." 

The  intelligence  of  most  of  these  proceedings  had 
reached  Britain  before  the  meeting  of  Parliament  in 
November,  1774.  The  king's  speech  announced  the 
violences  committed  in  Massachusetts  and  counte- 
nanced by  the  other  colonies,  declaring  a  resolution 
to  withstand  every  attempt  to  weaken  or  impair  the 
authority  of  the  British  legislature.  This  was  re- 
echoed by  large  majorities  in  both  houses,  though 
under  a  protest  by  nine  lords,  a  proceeding  very 
unusual  on  such  occasions.  Parliament  was  soon 
after  prorogued ;  and  ministers  do  not  seem  to  have 
formed  any  fixed  resolution,  as  they  made  no  increase 
in  the  votes  either  for  the  army  or  navy.  In  the 
course  of  the  recess,  however,  further  intelligence 
being  received,  the  determination  was  at  length 
formed  to  employ  coercive  measures.  As  a  prelude, 
Lord  North,  when  the  houses  met  on  the  19th  of 
January,  1775,  laid  before  them  a  large  mass  of 


Lord    Chatham 


PROCEEDINGS   OF    PARLIAMENT.  51 

documents  received  from  the  governors  of  the  dif- 
ferent colonies,  and  which  were  submitted  to  a  com- 
mittee. 

On  the  20th,  proceedings  were  opened  by  Lord 
Chatham  proposing  an  address  to  the  king  for  the 
removal  of  the  troops  from  Boston.  "Something," 
he  said,  "  must  be  done  instantly ;  there  must  be  no 
further  delay — no,  not  for  a  moment ;  the  thing  might 
be  over ;  one  drop  of  blood  shed,  and  the  wound  was 
incurable."  This  army  could  serve  no  useful  purpose, 
since  it  could  never  subdue  the  whole  American 
people  ;  it  was  an  army  of  impotence  —  an  army 
of  irritation.  He  again  justified  the  colonists  in 
resisting  such  measures  as  those  imposed  on  them, 
and  panegyrized  the  congress  as  having  displayed  a 
higher  wisdom  than  the  assemblies  of  ancient  Greece ; 
he  wished  the  young  men  of  Great  Britain  would 
imitate  them.  The  oppressive  acts  must  be  repealed. 
"I  pledge  myself  for  it,  that  you  will  in  the  end 
repeal  them.  I  stake  my  reputation  on  it.  I  will 
consent  to  be  taken  for  an  idiot,  if  they  are  not."  It 
is  better  then  to  concede  with  a  good  grace,  than  to 
hold  out  till  compelled  by  necessity.  Yet  he  still 
stood  for  the  legislative  supremacy  of  England, 
and  even  conceived  that  without  it  the  British  crown 
would  not  be  worth  the  wearing.  The  motion  was 
supported  by  Shelburne,  Camden,  Rockingham,  and 
Richmond;  but  ministers  urged,  not  without  some 
reason,  that  to  recede  at  this  moment,  after  having 
gone  so  far,  and  in  the  face  of  such  a  daring  re- 
sistance, would  really  amount  to  a  complete  sub- 
mission, and  involve  the  loss  of  all  their  authority. 


52  REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 

They  reproached  the  mover  with  sowing  divisions, 
and  giving  encouragement  to  the  malecontents.  The 
motion  was  negatived  by  sixty-eight  to  eighteen. 
Chatham,  however,  immediately  followed  it  up  by 
a  bill  for  settling  the  transatlantic  troubles.  It  pro- 
posed to  renounce  the  power  of  taxation,  but  to  call 
upon  Congress  to  acknowledge  the  supreme  legislative 
power  of  Britain,  and  invite  them  to  make  a  free 
grant  of  a  certain  annual  revenue,  to  be  employed  in 
meeting  the  charge  on  the  national  debt.  All  the 
obnoxious  acts  were  then  to  be  repealed.  The  Earl 
of  Dartmouth  was  willing  that  it  should  lie  on  the 
table ;  but  this  was  strongly  condemned  and  opposed 
by  the  other  members,  and,  after  a  warm  debate, 
was  negatived,  though  thirty-two  against  sixty-one 
voted  in  its  favour.  Lord  Camden  afterwards  bitterly 
reproached  the  house,  that  a  plan  coming  from  so 
high  a  quarter  should,  without  examination,  have  been 
spurned  and  trampled  upon.  "  Obliterate,"  said  he, 
"  the  transaction  from  your  records ;  let  not  posterity 
know  it." 

The  minister,  meantime,  in  a  committee  of  the 
Commons,  intimated  his  plans  for  coercing  the  colo- 
nies, by  sending  out  an  additional  force,  and  by 
crushing  the  foreign  trade  and  fisheries  of  New 
England.  He  proposed  an  address  approving  these 
measures,  declaring  Massachusetts  to  be  in  rebellion, 
and  assuring  his  majesty  of  full  support  in  main- 
taining his  just  rights  and  those  of  Parliament.  After 
some  stormy  debates,  in  which  the  usual  arguments 
were  reiterated,  it  was  carried  in  both  houses ;  in  the 
lower  by  two  hundred  and  ninety-six  to  one  hundred 


PROCEEDINGS    OF    PARLIAMENT.  53 

and  six;  in  the  upper  by  eighty-seven  to  twenty- 
seven,  eighteen  peers  protesting.  This  was  followed, 
on  a  royal  message,  by  an  additional  vote  of  two 
thousand  seamen,  and  four  thousand  four  hundred 
land  troops.  The  minister  then  brought  into  the 
Commons  his  anti-commercial  bill  against  New 
England,  afterwards  extended  to  the  other  colonies. 
This  was  represented  as  a  just  punishment  for  their 
contumacious  proceedings,  and  only  a  fair  retaliation 
of  the  similar  course  adopted  by  Congress.  It  en- 
countered the  usual  opposition,  Lord  Camden  saying : 
"  It  is  a  bill  of  war — it  draws  the  sword."  Rash  and 
contemptuous  expressions  were  used  by  members  on 
the  government  side.  General  Grant  declared  that, 
with  five  regiments  of  infantry,  he  could  drive  them 
from  one  end  of  the  continent  to  the  other.  Lord 
Sandwich  described  them  as  a  raw,  undisciplined, 
cowardly  rabble,  who,  at  the  first  sound  of  cannon, 
would  run  off  as  fast  as  their  feet  could  carry  them ; 
their  real  object,  he  declared,  was  to  defraud  their 
creditors.  Lord  Suffolk,  secretary  of  state,  censured 
the  use  of  contumelious  expressions,  and  represented 
the  measure  to  be  merely  temporary,  with  the  view 
of  bringing  the  Americans  to  their  duty.  It  was 
carried,  as  usual,  by  large  majorities,— one  hundred 
and  eighty-eight  to  fifty-eight  in  the  one  house,  and 
seventy-three  to  twenty-one  in  the  other. 

After  this  series  of  coercive  measures,  Lord  North, 
who  had  occasionally  shown  some  symptoms  of  re- 
lenting, surprised  the  house  by  a  conciliatory  propo- 
sition. Its  tenor  was,  that  when  the  assembly  in  any 
colony  should  propose,  besides  maintaining  its  own 
5* 


54  REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 

civil  government,  to  raise  a  certain  revenue,  and 
make  it  disposable  by  Parliament,  it  would  be  proper 
to  forbear  imposing  any  tax  unless  for  the  regulation 
of  commerce.  To  these  terms,  it  was  objected  by 
the  parliamentary  friends  of  the  colonists,  and  after- 
wards by  themselves,  that  they  remedied  no  grievance 
except  taxation,  and  even  on  that  head  contained 
nothing  specific.  It  referred  all  to  a  future  decision 
of  the  British  legislature,  in  whose  friendly  disposition 
they  were  far  from  confiding.  The  premier  had  also 
to  sustain  a  hot  fire  from  his  usual  supporters,  who 
branded  this  step  as  grossly  inconsistent  with  the 
address  and  with  all  the  other  measures.  He  was 
obliged  to  represent  that  the  rejection  of  these  terms, 
admitted  as  highly  probable,  would  at  least  increase 
the  number  of  the  well-affected,  and  divide  the  male- 
contents.  The  proposal  was  carried  by  two  hundred 
and  seventy-four  to  eighty-eight.  Mr.  Burke  then 
brought  forward,  and  eloquently  supported,  a  series 
of  resolutions,  in  which,  without  entering  into  any 
question  of  speculative  right,  a  complete  practical 
concession  was  made  of  the  points  in  dispute.  Their 
fate  might  be  easily  conjectured,  being  negatived  by 
two  hundred  and  seventy  to  seventy-eight. 

The  mercantile  interest,  however,  smarting  under 
the  cessation  of  intercourse,  adopted  with  ardour  the 
cause  of  the  colonists.  On  the  10th  of  April,  an 
address  was  presented  to  the  king  by  the  lord  mayor, 
aldermen,  and  livery  of  London,  condemning  all  the 
late  measures  against  the  Americans,  and  pronouncing 
their  resistance  justifiable.  A  stern  answer  was  re- 
turned, expressing  astonishment  that  any  subject 


FAILURE    OF  NEGOTIATIONS.  55 

should  be  capable  of  abetting  and  encouraging  such 
rebellious  courses. 

The  British  government  appears,  after  all,  to  have 
cherished  a  strong  desire  for  pacification.  Doctor 
Franklin  being  still  resident  in  London,  two  gen- 
tlemen, with  the  consent  of  some  of  the  ministry, 
earnestly  solicited  him  to  suggest  some  conciliatory 
plan.  He  drew  up,  under  the  title  of  "  Hints,"  seven- 
teen propositions,  embracing  of  course  all  the  de- 
mands of  America,  conceding  payment  for  the  tea, 
and  certain  contributions  of  revenue.  While  these 
were  under  discussion,  Lord  Howe  procured  an  in- 
troduction to  him,  and  expressed  an  earnest  wish  for 
reconciliation,  though  he  was  afraid  the  terms  would 
never  be  accepted.  On  the  4th  of  February,  1775, 
however,  two  months  after  their  delivery,  an  answer 
was  returned,  agreeing,  in  an  extent  at  least  likely  to 
be  satisfactory,  to  the  whole,  except  the  abolition  of 
the  new  constitution  of  Massachusetts.  This,  it  was 
said,  as  being  a  real  improvement,  and  as  a  standing 
example  of  the  power  of  Parliament,  must  be  con- 
tinued. Franklin  answered,  that  the  claim  of  altering 
the  charters  and  rights  upon  which  the  governments 
were  founded,  without  the  consent  of  the  parties  to 
whom  they  had  been  granted,  was  one  which  could 
never  be  submitted  to.  Yet  another  series  of  pro- 
posals were  on  the  16th  of  February  presented  from 
the  ministry,  but  as  they  did  not  concede  this  article, 
the  negotiation  was  unhappily  broken  up. 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  MINUTE-MEN. 

OTWITHSTANDING  the  numer- 
ous attempts  at  pacification,  the 
breach  between  England  and  Massa- 
chusetts was  daily  widening.  Al- 
though allegiance  to  the  mother 
country  was  professedly  maintained, 
yet  the  governor  found  himself  unable 
to  enforce  even  the  slightest  commands.  Orders  for 
the  meeting  of  an  Assembly  at  Salem,  had  been 
issued  by  General  Gage  on  the  5th  of  October ;  but 
fearing  that,  from  the  condition  of  popular  feeling, 
they  might  adopt  measures  prejudicial  to  the  royal 
authority,  he  subsequently  countermanded  the  order. 
This  measure  gave  sb  much  dissatisfaction,  that  on 
the  day  appointed  the  representatives  actually  met, 


MINUTE-MEN.  57 

organized  themselves  into  a  provincial  congress,  and 
adjourned  to  Concord. 

Here  they  made  choice  of  Hancock  to  be  their 
president,  and  appointed  a  committee  to  present  to  the 
governor  a  remonstrance  against  all  his  recent  mea- 
sures, concluding  with  an  earnest  request  that  he  would 
desist  from  the  construction  of  the  fortress  which  he 
was  erecting  at  the  entrance  of  Boston,  "  and  restore 
that  place  to  its  neutral  state"  Gage,  who,  though 
capable  of  dissimulation,  possessed  a  hotter  temper 
than  befitted  his  elevated  station  and  difficult  pre- 
dicament, took  fire  at  this  language ;  he  expressed  the 
warmest  displeasure  at  the  supposition  of  danger 
from  English  troops  to  any  but  the  enemies  of  Eng- 
land; and  desired  the  committee  to  convey  to  the 
congress  his  warning  counsel  that  they  should  hasten 
to  desist  from  their  illegal  proceedings.  Disregarding 
his  admonition  and  defying  his  power,  the  provincial 
congress  adjourned  to  Cambridge,  where,  relieved 
from  all  doubts  of  the  general  support  of  America, 
they  embraced  and  pursued  measures  of  unexampled 
boldness  and  vigour.  They  appointed  a  committee  to 
prepare  a  plan  for  the  immediate  defence  of  the  pro- 
vince ;  gave  orders  for  the  enlistment  of  a  number  of 
the  inhabitants  to  be  in  readiness,  at  a  minute's  warn- 
ing^ to  appear  in  arms ;  elected  three  general  officers 
(Preble,  Ward,  and  Pomeroy)  to  command  these 
minute-men  and  the  provincial  militia  in  case  of  their 
being  called  to  active  service ;  and  appointed  a  coun- 
cil of  safety  and  a  committee  of  supplies.  One  of  the 
secretaries  whom  they  elected  was  Benjamin  Lincoln, 
afterwards  a  general  in  the  American  service,  and 


58  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

highly  distinguished  as  a  gallant  and  indefatigable 
partisan  of  his  country's  cause.  Reassembling  after 
an  adjournment  of  a  few  weeks  (November),  the  same 
congress,  sensible  that  their  countrymen  applauded 
their  measures,  and  that  their  constituents  were  pre- 
pared to  yield  implicit  obedience  to  their  decrees, 
passed  an  ordinance  for  the  equipment  of  twelve 
thousand  men  to  act  on  any  emergency,  and  for  the 
enlistment  of  a  fourth  part  of  the  militia  as  minute- 
men  ;  appointed  two  additional  general  officers, 
Thomas  and  Heath:  and  sent  delegates  to  New 

*  O 

Hampshire,  Rhode  Island,  and  Connecticut,  to  request 
the  co-operation  of  those  provinces  in  completing  an 
army  of  twenty  thousand  men.  A  committee  was 
likewise  appointed  to  correspond  with  the  inhabitants 
of  Canada ;  and  circular  letters  were  addressed  to  all 
the  clergymen  of  Massachusetts,  requesting  their 
assistance  to  avert  impending  slavery. 

And  now  all  America  was  aroused  by  expectation 
of  awful  conflict  and  mighty  change.  New  England, 
upon  which  the  first  violence  of  the  storm  seemed 
likely  to  descend,  was  agitated  by  rumours  and 
alarms,  of  which  the  import  and  influence  strikingly 
portrayed  the  sentiments  and  temper  of  the  people. 
Reports  that  Gage  had  commanded  his  troops  to 
attack  the  Massachusetts  militia,  or  to  fire  upon  the 
town  of  Boston,  were  swallowed  with  the  avidity  of 
rage  and  hatred,  and  instantly  covered  the  highways 
with  thousands  of  armed  men,  mustering  in  hot  haste, 
and  eager  to  rush  forward  to  death  or  revenge. 
Everything  betokened  the  explosion  of  a  tempest; 
and  some  partial  gusts  announced  its  near  approach, 


MINUTE-MEN. 


59 


and  proved  the  harbingers  of  its  fury.  In  the  close 
of  the  year,  there  reached  America  a  proclamation 
issued  by  the  king,  prohibiting  the  exportation  of 
military  stores  from  Great  Britain.  The  inhabitants 
of  Rhode  Island  no  sooner  received  intelligence  of 
this  mandate,  than  they  removed  from  the  public 
battery  about  forty,  pieces  of  cannon ;  and  the 
assembly  of  the  province  gave  orders  for  procuring 
arms  and  martial  stores,  and  for  the  immediate 
equipment  of  a  military  force. 


Colonel    Pickering. 


PATRICK   HENRY -SECOND   PROVINCIAL  CON- 
GRESS-FIRST MILITARY  ENTERPRISE. 

HE    example    of 
Massachusetts  in 
H|    preparing  for  de- 
fence was  follow- 
•"£";         ed   by  the  other 


provinces 
warlike 
sels  were 
broached 


;     and 

coun- 

boldly 

in  the 


provincial  assem- 
blies   and     con- 


Patrick    Henry. 


PATRICK    HENRY.  63 

gresses.  When  (March  23)  some  members  of  the 
Virginia  assembly  urged  the  postponement  of  these 
preparations,  reminding  their  colleagues  of  the  power 
of  Britain  and  the  comparative  weakness  of  America, 
and  insisting  that  it  would  be  time  enough  to  fly  to 
arms  when  every  well-founded  hope  of  peace  had 
entirely  vanished,  —  Patrick  Henry,  with  vehement 
and  victorious  eloquence,  contended  that  that  time 
had  already  come.  "  It  is  natural,"  said  he,  "  to  man, 
to  indulge  in  the  illusions  of  hope.  We  are  prone  to 
shut  our  eyes  against  a  painful  truth,  and  listen  to 
the  song  of  that  enchantress  till  she  transforms  us 
into  beasts.  There  is  no  longer  any  room  for  hope. 
We  must  fight.  I  repeat  it,  sir,  we  must  fight.  An 
appeal  to  arms,  and  to  the  God  of  Hosts,  is  all  that  is 
left  us.  They  tell  us  that  we  are  weak,  and  unable 
to  cope  with  so  formidable  an  adversary.  But  when 
shall  we  be  stronger  ?  Will  it  be  when  our  supine- 
ness  shall  have  enabled  our  enemies  to  bind  us  hand 
and  foot  ?  Sir,  we  are  not  weak,  if  we  make  use  of 
those  means  which  the  God  of  nature  has  placed  in 
our  power.  Three  millions  of  people,  armed  in  the 
holy  cause  of  liberty,  and  in  such  a  country  as  ours, 
are  invincible  by  any  force  which  our  enemy  can  send 
against  us.  Nor  shall  we  fight  our  battles  alone. 
That  God  who  presides  over  the  destinies  of  nations, 
will  raise  up  friends  to  aid  us.  The  battle  is  not  to 
the  strong  alone ;  but  to  the  vigilant,  the  active,  the 
brave.  Besides,  we  have  no  longer  a  choice.  If  we 
were  base  enough  to  desire  it,  it  is  now  too  late  to 
retire  from  the  contest.  There  is  no  retreat  but  in 
submission  and  slavery.  Our  chains  are  forged; 


64  REVOLUTIONARY    WAE. 

their  clanking  may  be  heard  on  the  plains  of  Boston. 
The  war  is  inevitable,  and  let  it  come !  Gentlemen 
may  cry,  ' Peace!  Peace!' — but  there  is  no  peace. 
The  war  is  actually  begun.  The  next  gale  that 
sweeps  from  the  north  will  bring  to  our  ears  the  clash 
of  resounding  arms."  These  last  words  proved 
prophetic. 

The  provincial  congress,  which  had  now  (1775) 
superseded  the  General  Court  of  Massachussetts,  as- 
sembling in  the  beginning  of  February,  published  an 
address  acquainting  the  people,  that,  from  the  large 
reinforcements  of  troops  that  were  expected  at  Bos- 
ton, the  tenor  of  intelligence  from  Britain,  and  other 
indications,  they  had  reason  to  apprehend  that  the 
sudden  destruction  of  the  colony  was  intended ;  and 
urging  in  the  strongest  terms  the  militia  in  general, 
and  the  minute-men  in  particular,  to  spare  neither 
time,  pains,  nor  expense,  to  perfect  themselves  in 
military  preparation.  They  also  passed  resolutions  for 
procuring  and  making  firearms  and  bayonets,  and 
decreed  an  issue  of  provincial  bills  of  credit  to  the 
amount  of  fifty  thousand  pounds.  The  military 
preparations  which  they  recommended  were  diligently 
pursued,  and  artillery  and  provisions  were  collected 
at  various  places.  General  Gage  was  not  an  inat- 
tentive spectator  of  these  proceedings.  Having 
learned  that  some  military  stores  belonging  to  the 
colonists  were  deposited  in  Salem,  he  despatched 
Colonel  Leslie  from  Castle  William,  on  the  26th  of 
February,  with  one  hundred  and  forty  soldiers  in  a 
transport  to  seize  them.  The  troops,  landing  at 
Marblehead,  proceeded  to  Salem;  but  not  finding 


FIRST    MILITARY    ENTERPRISE.  65 

there  the  object  of  their  expedition,  they  advanced 
along  the  road  leading  to  Danvers,  whither  the  stores 
had  been  removed,  and  reached  the  drawbridge  laid 
across  the  river.  Here  a  number  of  the  country 
people  were  assembled,  and  on  the  opposite  side  the 
American  colonel,  Pickering,  had  mustered  thirty 
or  forty  armed  men,  and,  having  drawn  up  the  bridge, 
stood  prepared  to  dispute  the  passage  of  the  river. 
Leslie  commanded  them  to  lower  the  bridge  ;  but,  as 
they  peremptorily  refused,  he  was  preparing  to  cross 
the  river  in  some  boats  that  were  moored  to  the 
shore,  when  the  people,  who  had  gathered  around 
him,  perceiving  his  intention,  sprang  into  the  boats 
and  scuttled  them  with  axes.  The  day  of  this  oc- 
currence was  a  Sunday ;  and,  as  most  of  the  neigh- 
bouring inhabitants  were  at  church,  this  circumstance 
(as  Gage  was  supposed  to  have  anticipated)  pre- 
vented the  diffusion  of  alarm,  and  diminished  the 
concourse  of  armed  Americans.  A  conflict,  never- 
theless, was  on  the  point  of  ensuing,  when  it  was 
averted  by  the  prudent  interposition  of  Barnard,  one 
of  the  Congregational  ministers  of  Salem,  who,  finding 
Leslie  determined  to  cross  the  river,  but  willing,  if  this 
point  were  yielded,  to  content  himself  with  marching 
thirty  paces  beyond  it,  and  then  return  without  at- 
tempting further  progress,  prevailed  with  his  country- 
men to  indulge  the  British  with  this  empty  triumph, 
which,  indeed,  could  have  been  pushed  no  further,  as 
the  stores  were  already  removed,  during  the  delay 
that  had  been  created.  At  length  the  bridge  was 
lowered ;  and  Pickering,  with  his  men  still  facing  the 
British  troops,  retired  to  the  line  they  had  measured 


66  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

and  marked.  Leslie  and  his  soldiers,  after  advancing 
to  the  stipulated  point,  returned  and  embarked  for 
Boston.  Thus  ended  the  first  military  enterprise  of 
the  Revolutionary  War,  without  effect  and  without 
bloodshed ;  but  not  without  additionally  kindling  the 
spirit,  the  vigilance,  and  the  jealousy  of  the  Ameri- 
cans, and  inflaming  the  bitter  animosity  progressively 
created  between  them  and  the  British  soldiery.  They 
declared  that  Gage  and  his  troops  (doubtless  en- 
couraged by  secret  orders  from  Britain)  had  treated 
them  as  rebels,  before  the  British  government  itself 
dared  to  affix  this  stigma  upon  them ;  and  that  the 
previous  seizures  of  arms  on  their  own  part  in  New 
Hampshire  and  Rhode  Island,  were  merely  retaliatory 
measures  and  defensive  preparations.  In  such  cir- 
cumstances, an  expedition  as  harmless  as  the  last  was 
not  likely  again  to  occur ;  and  it  needed  less  the 
sagacity  of  Patrick  Henry  to  foresee,  than  his  spirit 
and  intrepidity  firmly  to  contemplate,  the  more  serious 
trial  which  the  resolution  of  the  people  of  Massa- 
chusetts was  soon  to  undergo. 


BATTLES  OF  LEXINGTON  AND  CONCORD. 


CONSIDERABLE  quantity  of 
military  stores  having  been  de- 
posited at  Concord,  an  inland 
town,  about  eighteen  miles  from 
Boston,  General  Gage  purposed 
to  destroy  them.  For  the  exe- 
cution  of  this  design,  he,  on  the 
night  preceding  the  19th  of  April,  detached  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Smith  and  Major  Pitcairn,  with  eight 
hundred  grenadiers  and  light  infantry ;  who,  at  eleven 
o'clock,  embarked  in  boats  at  the  bottom  of  the 


68  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

common  in  Boston,  crossed  the  river  Charles,  and, 
landing  at  Phipps's  farm  w  Cambridge,  commenced  a 
silent  and  expeditious  march  for  Concord. 

Although  several  British  officers,  who  dined  at 
Cambridge  the  preceding  day,  had  taken  the  pre- 
caution to  disperse  themselves  along  the  road  lead- 
ing to  Concord,  to  intercept  any  expresses  that  might 
be  sent  from  Boston  to  alarm  the  country;  yet  mes- 
sengers, who  had  been  sent  from  town  for  that  pur- 
pose, had  eluded  the  British  patrols,  and  given  an 
alarm,  which  was  rapidly  spread  by  church  bells,  signal 
guns,  and  volleys. 

The  march  of  the  British  was  so  cautious,  that  they 
remained  undiscovered  till  within  a  mile  and  a  half 
of  Lexington  meeting-house,  and  time  was  scarce  left 
for  the  last  messenger  to  return  with  the  tidings  of 
their  approach. 

The  new  alarm  is  now  given;  the  bell  rings, 
alarm  guns  are  fired,  the  drum  beats  to  arms.  Some 
of  the  militia  had  gone  home,  when  dismissed ;  but  the 
greater  part  were  in  the  neighbouring  houses,  and 
instantly  obeyed  the  summons.  Sixty  or  seventy 
appeared  on  the  green,  and  were  drawn  up  in  double 
ranks.  At  this  moment  the  British  column  of  eight 
hundred  gleaming  bayonets  appears,  headed  by  their 
mounted  commanders,  their  banners  flying  and  drums 
beating  a  charge.  To  engage  them  with  a  handful 
of  militia  of  course  was  madness, — to  fly  at  the  sight 
of  them,  they  disdained.  The  British  troops  rush 
furiously  on;  their  commanders,  with  mingled  threats 
and  execrations,  bid  the  Americans  lay  down  their 
arms  and  disperse,  and  their  own  troops  to  fire. 


LEXINGTON  AND  CONCORD.         69 

A  moment's  delay,  as  of  compunction,  follows. 
The  order  with  vehement  imprecations  is  repeated, 
and  they  fire.  No  one  falls,  and  the  band  of  self- 
devoted  heroes,  most  of  whom  had  never  seen  such  a 
body  of  troops  before,  stand  firm  in  the  front  of  an 
army,  outnumbering  them  ten  to  one.  Another  volley 
succeeds ;  the  killed  and  wounded  drop,  and  it  was  not 
till  they  had  returned  the  fire  of  the  overwhelming 
force,  that  the  militia  were  driven  from  the  field.  A 
scattered  fire  now  succeeded  on  both  sides  while  the 
Americans  remained  in  sight ;  and  the  British  troops 
were  then  drawn  up  on  the  green,  to  fire  a  volley  and 
give  a  shout  in  honour  of  the  victory. 

On  arriving  at  Concord,  it  was  the  first  care  of 
the  British  commander  to  cut  off  the  approach  of  the 
Americans  from  the  neighbouring  towns,  by  destroying 
or  occupying  the  bridges.  A  party  was  immediately 
sent  to  the  south  bridge  and  tore  it  up.  A  force  of 
six  companies,  under  Captains  Parsons  and  Lowrie, 
was  sent  to  the  north  bridge.  Three  companies  un- 
der Captain  Lowrie  were  left  to  guard  it,  and  three 
under  Captain  Parsons  proceeded  to  Colonel  Barrett's 
house,  in  search  of  provincial  stores.  While  they 
were  engaged  on  that  errand,  the  militia  of  Concord, 
joined  by  their  brave  brethren  from  the  neighbouring 
towns,  gathered  on  the  hill  opposite  the  north  bridge, 
under  the  command  of  Colonel  Robinson  and  Major 
Buttrick.  The  British  companies  at  the  bridge  were 
now  apparently  bewildered  with  the  perils  of  their 
situation,  and  began  to  tear  up  the  planks  of  the 
bridge ;  not  remembering  that  this  would  expose  their 


70  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

own  party,  then  at  Colonel  Barrett's,  to  certain  and 
entire  destruction. 

The  Americans,  on  the  other  hand,  resolved  to 
keep  open  the  communication  with  the  town;  and 
perceiving  the  attempt  which  was  made  to  destroy 
the  bridge,  were  immediately  put  in  motion,  with 
orders  not  to  give  the  first  fire.  They  draw  near  to 
the  bridge,  the  Acton  company  in  front,  led  on  by  the 
gallant  Davis.  Three  alarm  guns  were  fired  into  the 
water,  by  the  British,  without  arresting  the  march  of 
our  citizens.  The  signal  for  a  general  discharge  is 
then  made; — a  British  soldier  steps  from  the  ranks 
and  fires  at  Major  Buttrick.  The  ball  passed  between 
his  arm  and  his  side,  and  slightly  wounded  Mr.  Luther 
Blanchard,  who  stood  near  him.  A  volley  instantly 
followed,  and  Captain  Davis  was  shot  through  the 
heart,  gallantly  marching  at  the  head  of  the  Acton 
militia  against  the  choice  troops  of  the  British  line. 
A  private  of  his  company,  Mr.  Hosmer,  of  Acton,  also 
fell  at  his  side. 

A  general  action  now  ensued,  which  terminated  in 
the  reCreat  of  the  British  party,  after  the  loss  of 
several  killed  and  wounded,  toward  the  centre  of  the 
town,  followed  by  the  brave  band  who  had  driven 
them  from  their  post.  The  advance  party  of  British 
at  Colonel  Barrett's  was  thus  left  to  its  fate;  and 
nothing  would  have  been  more  easy  than  to  effect  its 
entire  destruction.  But  the  idea  of  a  declared  war 
had  yet  scarcely  forced  itself,  with  all  its  consequences, 
into  the  minds  of  our  countrymen ;  and  these  advanced 
companies  were  allowed  to  return  unmolested  to  the 
main  band. 


LEXINGTON  AND  CONCORD.         73 

It  was  now  twelve  hours  since  the  first  alarm  had 
been  given,  the  evening  before,  of  the  meditated  ex- 
pedition. The  swift  watches  of  that  eventful  night  had 
scattered  the  tidings  far  and  wide ;  and  widely  as  they 
spread,  the  people  rose  in  their  strength.  The  genius 
of  America,  on  this  the  morning  of  her  emancipation, 
had  sounded  her  horn  over  the  plains  and  upon  the 
mountains ;  and  the  indignant  yeomanry  of  the  land, 
armed  with  the  weapons  which  had  done  service  in 
their  fathers'  hands,  poured  to  the  spot  where  this  new 
and  strange  tragedy  was  acting.  The  old  New  Eng- 
land drums,  that  had  beat  at  Louisbourg,  at  Quebec, 
at  Martinique,  at  the  Havana,  were  now  sounding  on 
all  the  roads  to  Concord.  There  were  officers  in  the 
British  line  that  knew  the  sound ;  they  had  heard  it, 
in  the  deadly  breach,  beneath  the  black,  deep-throated 
engines  of  the  French  and  Spanish  castles. 

With  the  British  it  was  a  question  no  longer  of 
protracted  hostility,  nor  even  of  halting  long  enough 
to  rest  their  exhausted  troops,  after  a  weary  night's 
march,  and  all  the  labour,  confusion,  and  distress  of 
the  day's  efforts.  Their  dead  were  hastily  buried  in 
the  public  square  ;  their  wounded  placed  in  the  vehicles 
which  the  town  afforded ;  and  a  flight  commenced,  to 
which  the  annals  of  British  warfare  will  hardly  afford 
a  parallel. 

On  all  tne  neighbouring  hills,  were  multitudes  from 
the  surrounding  country,  of  the  unarmed  and  infirm, 
of  women  and  of  children,  who  had  fled  from  the  ter- 
rors and  the  perils  of  the  plunder  and  conflagration  of 
their  homes ;  or  were  collected,  with  fearful  curiosity, 
to  mark  the  progress  of  this  storm  of  war.  The 
7 


74 


REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 


Retreat   from   Concord. 


panic  fears  of  a  calamitous  flight,  on  the  part  of  the 
British,  transformed  this  inoffensive,  timid  throng  into 
a  threatening  array  of  armed  men ;  and  there  was  too 
much  reason  for  the  misconception.  Every  height  of 
ground,  within  reach  of  the  line  of  march,  was  covered 
with  the  indignant  avengers  of  their  slaughtered  breth- 
ren. The  British  light  companies  were  sent  out  to 
great  distances  as  flanking  parties ;  but  who  was  to 
flank  the  flankers  ?  Every  patch  of  trees,  every  rock, 
every  stream  of  water,  every  building,  every  stone 
wall,  was  lined  (I  use  the  words  of  a  British  officer  in 
the  battle),  was  lined  with  an  unintermitted  fire. 

Before  the  flying  troops  had  reached  Lexington, 
their  rout  was  entire.  An  English  historian  says,  the 
British  soldiers  were  driven  before  the  Americans  like 


LEXINGTON  AND  CONCORD.         75 

sheep ;  till,  by  a  last  desperate  effort,  the  officers  suc- 
ceeded in  forcing  their  way  to  the  front,  "  when  they 
presented  their  swords  and  bayonets  against  the 
breasts  of  their  own  men,  and  told  them  if  they  ad- 
vanced they  should  die."  Upon  this,  they  began  to 
form,  under  what  the  same  British  officer  pronounces 
"  a  very  heavy  fire,"  which  must  soon  have  led  to  the 
destruction  or  capture  of  the  whole  corps. 

At  this  critical  moment,  it  pleased  Providence  that 
a  reinforcement  should  arrive.  Colonel  Smith  had 
sent  back  a  messenger  from  Lexington,  to  apprise 
General  Gage  of  the  check  he  had  there  received,  and 
of  the  alarm  which  was  running  through  the  country. 
Three  regiments  of  infantry,  and  two  divisions  of 
marines,  with  two  field-pieces,  under  the  command  of 
Brigadier-General  Lord  Percy,  were  accordingly  de- 
tached. They  marched  out  of  Boston,  through  Rox- 
bury  and  Cambridge,  and  came  up  with  the  flying 
party,  in  the  hour  of  their  extreme  peril.  While  their 
field-pieces  kept  the  Americans  at  bay,  the  reinforce- 
ment drew  up  in  a  hollow  square,  into  which,  says 
the  British  historian,  they  received  the  exhausted 
fugitives,  "  who  lay  down  on  the  ground,  with  their 
tongues  hanging  from  their  mouths,  like  dogs  after  a 
chase." 

A  half-hour  was  given  to  rest;  the  march  was 
then  resumed ;  and  under  cover  of  the  field-pieces, 
every  house  in  Lexington,  and  on  the  road  down- 
wards, was  plundered  and  set  on  fire.  Though  the 
flames  in  most  cases  were  speedily  extinguished, 
several  houses  were  destroyed.  Notwithstanding  the 
attention  of  a  great  part  of  the  Americans  was  thus 


76  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 


Earl   Percy. 

• 

drawn  off,  and  although  the  British  force  was  now 
more  than  doubled,  their  retreat  still  wore  the  aspect 
of  a  flight.  The  Americans  filled  the  heights  that 
overhung  the  road,  and  at  every  defile  the  struggle 
was  sharp  and  bloody.  At  West  Cambridge  the 
gallant  Warren  (never  distant  when  danger  was  to  be 
braved)  appeared  in  the  field,  and  a  musket-ball  soon 
cut  off  a  lock  of  hair  from  his  temple.  General 
Heath  was  with  him,  nor  does  there  appear  till  this 
moment  to  have  been  any  effective  command  among 
the  American  forces. 

Below  West  Cambridge,  the  militia  from  Dor- 
chester, Roxbury,  and  Brookline,  came  up.  The 
British  field-pieces  began  to  lose  their  terror.  A 
sharp  skirmish  followed,  and  many  fell  on  both  sides. 


LEXINGTON  AND  CONCORD.          77 

Indignation  and  outraged  humanity  struggled  on  the 
one  hand,  veteran  discipline  and  desperation  on  the 
other ;  and  the  contest,  in  more  than  one  instance, 
was  man  to  man,  and  bayonet  to  bayonet. 

The  British  officers  had  been  compelled  to  de- 
scend from  their  horses,  to  escape  the  certain  de- 
struction which  attended  their  exposed  situation. 
The  wounded,  to  the  number  of  two  hundred,  now 
presented  the  most  distressing  and  constantly  in- 
creasing obstruction  to  the  progress  of  the  march. 
Near  one  hundred  brave  men  had  fallen  in  this  dis- 
astrous flight ;  a  considerable  number  had  been  made 
prisoners;  a  round  or  two  of  ammunition  only  re- 
mained ;  and  it  was  not  till  late  in  the  evening,  nearly 
twenty-four  hours  from  the  time  when  the  first  de- 
tachment was  put  in  motion,  that  the  exhausted 
remnant  reached  the  heights  of  Charlestown.  The 
boats  of  the  vessels-of-war  were  immediately  employed 
to  transport  the  wounded ;  the  remaining  British 
troops  in  Boston  came  over  to  Charlestown  to  pro- 
tect their  weary  countrymen  during  the  night ;  and, 
before  the  close  of  the  next  day,  the  royal  army  was 
formally  besieged  in  Boston. 

It  was  one  of  those  great  days,  one  of  those  ele- 
mental occasions  in  the  world's  affairs,  when  the 
people  rise,  and  act  for  themselves.  Some  organi- 
zation and  preparation  had  been  made ;  but,  from  the 
nature  of  the  case,  with  scarce  any  effect  on  the 
events  of  that  day.  It  may  be  doubted  whether 
there  was  an  efficient  order  given  the  whole  day, 
to  any  body  of  men  as  large  as  a  regiment.  It  was 
the  people,  in  their  first  capacity,  as  citizens  and  a? 


78  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

freemen,  starting  from  their  beds  at  midnight,  from 
their  firesides,' and  from  their  fields,  to  take  their  own 
cause  into  their  own  hands. 

Such  a  spectacle  is  the  height  of  the  moral  sub- 
lime ;  when  the  want  of  everything  is  fully  made  up 
by  the  spirit  of  the  cause,  and  the  soul  within  stands 
in  place  of  discipline,  organization,  resources.  In  the 
prodigious  efforts  of  a  veteran  army,  beneath  the 
dazzling  splendour  of  their  array,  there  is  something 
revolting  to  the  reflective  mind.  The  ranks  are  filled 
with  the  desperate,  the  mercenary,  the  depraved ;  an 
iron  slavery,  by  the  name  of  subordination,  merges 
the  free  will  of  one  hundred  thousand  men  in  the 
unqualified  despotism  of  one;  the  humanity,  mercy, 
and  remorse,  which  scarce  ever  deserts  the  individual 
bosom,  are  sounds  without  a  meaning  to  that  fearful, 
ravenous,  irrational  monster  of  prey,  a  mercenary 
army.  It  is  hard  to  say  who  are  most  to  be  com- 
miserated, the  wretched  people  on  whom  it  is  let 
loose,  or  the  still  more  wretched  people  whose  sub- 
stance has  been  sucked  out  to  nourish  it  into  strength 
and  fury. 

But,  in  the  efforts  of  the  people — of  the  people 
struggling  for  their  rights,  moving  not  in  organized, 
disciplined  masses,  but  in  their  spontaneous  action, 
man  for  man,  and  heart  for  heart, — though  I  like  not 
war  nor  any  of  its  works,  —  there  is  something 
glorious.  They  can  then  move  forward  without 
orders,  act  together  without  combination,  and  brave 
the  flaming  lines  of  battle  without  intrenchments  to 
cover,  or  walls  to  shield  them. 

No  dissolute  camp  has  worn  off  from  the  feelings 


LEXINGTON  AND  CONCORD.         79 

of  the  youthful  soldier  the  freshness  of  that  home 
where  his  mother  and  his  sisters  sit  waiting,  with 
tearful  eyes  and  aching  hearts,  to  hear  good  news 
from  the  wars;  no  long  service  in  the  ranks  of  a 
conqueror  has  turned  the  veteran's  heart  into  marble ; 
their  valour  springs  not  from  recklessness,  from  habit, 
from  indifference  to  the  preservation  of  a  life  knit  by 
no  pledges  to  the  life  of  others.  But  in  the  strength 
and  spirit  of  the  cause  alone  they  act,  they  contend, 
they  bleed.  In  this,  they  conquer. 

The  people  always  conquer.  They  must  always 
conquer.  Armies  may  be  defeated ;  kings  may  be  over- 
thrown, and  new  dynasties  imposed  by  foreign  arms 
on  an  ignorant  and  slavish  race,  that  care  not  in  what 
language  the  covenant  of  their  subjection  runs,  nor  in 
whose  name  the  deed  of  their  barter  and  sale  is  made 
out.  But  the  people  never  invade ;  and,  when  they 
rise  against  the  invader,  are  never  subdued. 

If  they  are  driven  from  the  plains,  they  fly  to  the 
mountains.  Steep  rocks  and  everlasting  hills  are 
their  castles ;  the  tangled,  pathless  thicket,  their 
palisado ;  and  Nature — God,  is  their  ally.  Now  he 
overwhelms  the  hosts  of  their  enemies,  beneath  his 
drifting  mountains  of  sand ;  now  he  buries  them  be- 
neath a  falling  atmosphere  of  polar  snows ;  he  lets 
loose  his  tempests  on  their  fleets ;  he  puts  a  folly  into 
their  counsels,  a  madness  into  the  hearts  of  their 
leaders ;  and  never  gave,  and  never  will  give,  a  full 
and  final  triumph  over  a  virtuous,  gallant  people, 
resolved  to  be  free. 


BATTLE  OF  BUNKER'S  HILL. 


HE  traveller  who  vis- 
its   Boston,    cannot 
|§  fail   to  associate   in 
W   his  mind  the  field  of 
1  v  \  \  y   battle  where  the  early 
heroes  of  the  revolu- 
tion first  established 
the  character  of  that 


BATTLE    OF    BUNKER'S    HILL.  83 

event,  marked  as  it  was  by  undaunted  resolution,  the 
offspring  of  a  determined  purpose.  From  the  State 
House  of  Massachusetts,  conspicuously  seated  on  an 
eminence,  the  eye  ranges  jover  Charlestown,  a  con- 
siderable town  that  now  adjoins  Boston  by  a  spacious 
bridge.  The  patriot  will  scarcely  content  himself  with 
a  remote  view  of  this  impressive  scene,  designated  by 
the  celebrated  Bunker's  Hill  Monument. 

At  a  distance  of  about  two  miles,  some  hills 
are  discerned,  viz:  —  Prospect  Hill,  Plowed  Hill, 
Breed's  Hill,  and  Bunker's  Hill.  As  you  advance 
on  the  road  in  the  rear  of  the  navy  yard  at  Charles- 
town,  Breed's  Hill  rears  its  venerable  brow  on 
the  left.  Here  it  was,  that  a  detachment  from  the 
American  army  of  one  thousand  men,  under  Colonel 
Prescott,  began  at  twelve  o'clock  in  the  night  of 
the  16th  of  June,  1775,  to  throw  up  some  works, 
extending  from  Charlestown  to  the  river  which 
separates  that  town  from  Boston.  They  proceeded 
with  such  secrecy  and  despatch,  that  the  officers 
of  a  ship-of-war  then  in  the  river  expressed  their 
astonishment,  when  in  the  morning  they  saw  in- 
trenchments  reared  and  fortified  in  the  space  of  a  few 
hours,  where,  from  the  contiguity  of  the  situation, 
they  least  expected  the  Americans  would  look  them 
in  the  face. 

The  alarm  being  immediately  given,  orders  were 
issued  that  a  continual  fire  should  be  kept  playing  upon 
the  unfinished  works,  from  the  ships,  the  floating  bat- 
teries in  the  river,  and  Copp's  Hill,  a  fortified  post  of 
the  British  in  Boston,  directly  opposite  the  American 
redoubt;  but,  with  extraordinary  perseverance,  the 


84  REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 

Americans  continued  to  strengthen  their  works,  not 
returning  a  shot  till  noon,  when  a  number  of  boats  and 

o  ' 

barges  filled  with  regular  troops  from  Boston  ap- 
proached Charlestown.  The  day  was  exceedingly 
hot.  Ten  companies  of  grenadiers,  ten  of  light  in- 
fantry, with  a  proportion  of  field-artillery,  landed  at 
Moreton's  Point,  the  whole  commanded  by  Major- 
General  Howe  and  Brigadier-General  Pigot.  These 
troops  having  formed,  remained  in  that  position  till 
joined  by  a  second  detachment  of  light  infantry  and 
grenadier  companies,  the  47th  regiment,  and  a  bat- 
talion of  marines,  making  in  the  whole  near  three 
thousand  men. 

The  Americans  had  not  a  rifleman  amongst  them, 
not  one  being  yet  arrived  from  the  southward,  nor  had 
they  any  rifle  pieces ;  they  had  but  common  muskets, 
and  these  mostly  without  bayonets;  but  then  they 
were  almost  all  marksmen,  being  accustomed  to  sport- 
ing of  one  kind  or  other  from  their  youth.  A  reinforce- 
ment of  Massachusetts  troops  was  posted  in  a  redoubt, 
and  in  part  of  the  breastwork  nearest  it.  The  left 
of  the  breastwork,  and  the  open  ground  stretching 
beyond  its  point  to  the  water  side,  along  which  time 
did  not  admit  of  accomplishing  the  work,  were  occu- 
pied partly  by  the  Massachusetts,  and  partly  by  the 
Connecticut  men  under  Captain  Knowlton  of  Ashford, 
and  the  New  Hampshire  under  Colonel  Stark,  the  whole 
amounting  to  about  one  thousand  five  hundred  men. 
By  direction  of  the  officers  the  troops  upon  the  open 
ground  pulled  up  the  post  and  rail  fence,  and  carrying 
it  forward  to  another  of  the  same  kind,  and  placing 


BATTLE    OF   BUNKER'S   HILL.  85 

some  clods  of  grass  between,  formed  a  slight  defence 
in  some  parts. 

A  critical  scene  now  opened  to  the  view.  The 
British  regulars,  formed  in  two  lines,  advanced  slowly, 
frequently  halting  to  give  time  for  the  artillery  to  fire. 
The  light  infantry  were  directed  to  force  the  left  point 
of  the  breastwork,  and  to  take  the  American  line  in 
flank.  The  grenadiers  advanced  to  attack  in  front, 
supported  by  two  battalions,  under  General  Howe, 
while  the  left,  under  General  Pigot,  inclined  to  the  right 
of  the  American  line.  As  the  British  advanced  nearer 
and  nearer  to  the  attack,  a  carcass  was  discharged 
from  Copp's  Hill,  which  set  on  fire  an  old  house  in 
Charlestown,  and  the  flames  quickly  spread  to  others. 
The  houses  at  the  eastern  end  of  Charlestown  were 
set  on  fire  by  seamen  from  the  boats.  The  whole 
town,  consisting  of  about  three  hundred  dwelling- 
houses,  and  nearly  two  hundred  other  buildings,  speedily 
became  involved  in  one  great  blaze,  being  chiefly  of 
timber.  The  large  meeting-house,  by  its  aspiring 
steeple,  formed  a  pyramid  of  fire  above  the  rest.  The 
houses,  heights,  and  steeples  in  Boston  were  covered 
with  spectators  of  this  anxious  scene,  and  the  sur- 
rounding hills  were  occupied  by  others. 

The  slow  movement  of  the  British  troops  ad- 
vancing to  the  attack,  afforded  to  the  Americans  the 
advantage  of  taking  a  surer  and  more  deliberate  aim. 

o  o 

The  wind  having  shifted,  carried  the  smoke  from  the 
conflagration  in  such  a  direction  that  the  British  had 

O 

not  the  cover  of  it  in  their  approach.  The  destruc- 
tion of  the  place,  however,  served  to  prevent  their 
opponents  from  effecting  a  lodgment  in  the  houses, 


86 


REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 


whence  they  might  have  annoyed  to  advantage. 
General  Warren,  who  had  been  appointed  by  Con- 
gress a  major-general  in  their  armies  only  four  days 
before,  was  everywhere  aiding  and  encouraging  his 
men.  General  Pomeroy  commanded  a  brigade,  and 
General  Putnam,  a  brave  and  meritorious  officer, 
directed  the  whole  on  the  fall  of  General  Warren. 
The  troops  were  ordered  to  reserve  their  fire  until 
the  close  approach  of  the  British.  They  strictly 
obeyed,  with  a  steadiness  and  composure  that  would 
have  done  honour  to  the  most  approved  veterans; 
and  when  the  enemy  had  arrived  within  ten  or  twelve 
rods,  poured  in  a  discharge  of  small  arms,  which 
arrested  and  so  staggered  their  foes  that  they  could 


BATTLE    OF    BUNKER'S    HILL.  87 

only  for  a  time  return  it,  without  advancing  a  step. 
Finding  the  stream  of  the  American  fire  so  incessant 
as  to  mow  down  whole  sections,  they  retired  in  dis- 
order to  the  river.  Rallying  as  well  as  their  extra- 
ordinary loss  of  officers  would  admit  of,  the  British 
again  advanced,  with  an  apparent  resolution  of 
forcing  their  way,  whatever  loss  of  lives  it  might 
cost  them.  The  Americans  again  reserved  their  fire 
till  the  enemy  arrived  within  five  or  six  rods,  when, 
discharging  their  pieces,  which  were  admirably 
pointed,  they  threw  the  opposing  ranks  again  into 
confusion.  General  Clinton,  who,  with  General  Gage, 
the  commander-in-chief  of  the  British  forces  in  Bos- 
ton, was  on  Copp's  Hill,  observing  the  events  of  the 
day,  when  he  perceived  the  disconcerted  state  of  the 
troops,  passed  over  and  joined  just  in  time  to  be  of 
service.  The  united  and  strenuous  efforts  of  the 
different  officers  were  again  successful,  and  the 
columns  were  advanced  a  third  time  to  the  attack, 
with  a  desperation  increased  by  the  unshaken  oppo- 
sition they  experienced.  It  is  probable,  from  the 
nature  of  the  resistance,  that  every  effort  to  dislodge 
the  Americans  would  have  been  ineffectual,  had  not 
their  ammunition  failed ;  on  sending  for  a  supply,  none 
could  be  procured,  as  there  was  but  a  barrel  and  a 
half  in  the  magazine.  This  deficiency  prevented  them 
from  making  the  same  defence  as  before ;  while  the 
British  enjoyed  a  further  advantage,  by  bringing  some 
cannon  to  bear  so  as  to  rake  the  inside  of  the  breast- 
work from  end  to  end,  upon  which  the  Americans 
were  compelled  to  retreat  within  their  redoubt.  The 
British  now  made  a  decisive  movement,  covered  by 


88  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

the  fire  of  the  ships,  batteries,  and  field-artillery.  The 
Americans  disputed  the  possession  of  the  works  with 
the  butt-ends  of  their  muskets,  until  the  redoubt, 
easily  mounted  and  attacked  on  three  sides  at  once, 
was  taken,  and  their  defences,  the  labour  of  only  a 
few  hours,  had  been  prostrated  by  artillery.  Whilst 
these  operations  were  going  on  at  the  breastwork  and 
redoubt,  the  British  light  infantry  were  engaged  in 
attempting  to  force  the  left  point  of  the  former, 
through  the  space  between  that  and  the  water,  that 
they  might  take  the  American  line  in  flank.  The 
resistance  they  met  with  was  as  formidable  and  fatal 
in  its  effects  as  experienced  in  the  other  quarter  ,•  for 
here  also  the  Americans,  by  command,  reserved  their 
fire  till  the  enemy's  close  approach,  and  then  poured 
in  a  discharge  so  well  directed,  and  with  such  exe- 
cution, that  wide  chasms  were  made  in  every  rank. 
Some  of  the  Americans  were  slightly  guarded  by  the 
rail  fences,  but  others  were  altogether  exposed,  so 
that  their  bravery  in  close  combat  was  put  to  the  test, 
independent  of  defences  neither  formed  by  military 
rules  or  workmen.  The  most  determined  assaults  of 
their  regular  opponents,  who  were  now  brought  to 
the  charge  with  redoubled  fury,  could  not,  after  all, 
compel  them  to  retreat,  till  they  observed  that  their 
main  body  had  left  the  hill,  when  they  retrograded, 
but  with  a  regularity  that  could  scarcely  have  been 
expected  of  troops  newly  embodied,  and  who  in 
general  never  before  saw  an  engagement.  Over- 
powered by  numbers,  and  seeing  all  hope  of  rein- 
forcement cut  off  by  the  incessant  fire  of  the  ships 


BATTLE    OF   BUNKER'S  HILL.  89 

across  a  neck  of  land  that  separated  them  from  the 
country,  they  were  compelled  to  quit  the  ground. 

The  staunch  opposition  of  this  band  of  patriots 
saved  their  comrades,  who  must  otherwise  have  been 
cut  off,  as  the  enemy,  but  for  them,  would  have  been 
in  rear  of  the  whole.  While  these  brave  heroes 
retired,  disputing  every  inch  of  ground,  and  taking  up 
every  new  position  successively  that  admitted  of  de- 
fence, their  leader,  the  gallant  Warren,  unfortunately 
received  a  ball  through  the  right  side  of  the  skull,  and 
mechanically  clapping  his  hand  to  the  wound,  dropped 
down  dead. 

The  British,  taught  by  the  experience  of  this  day 
to  respect  their  rustic  adversaries,  contented  them- 
selves with  taking  post  at  Bunker's  Hill,  which  they 
fortified.  The  Americans,  with  the  enthusiasm  of 
men  determined  to  be  free,  did  the  same  upon  Pros- 
pect Hill,  a  mile  in  front.  It  was  here  that  General 
Putnam  regaled  the  precious  remains  of  his  army, 
after  their  fatigues,  with  several  hogsheads  of  beer. 
Owing  to  some  unaccountable  error,  the  working 
parties,  who  had  been  incessantly  labouring  the 
whole  of  the  preceding  night,  were  neither  relieved 
nor  supplied  with  refreshment,  but  left  to  engage 
under  all  these  disadvantages. 

This  battle  was  generally  admitted,  by  experienced 
officers  of  the  British  army  who  witnessed  it,  and  had 
served  at  Minden,  Dettingen,  and  throughout  the 
campaigns  in  Germany,  to  have  been  unparalleled  for 
the  time  it  lasted  and  the  numbers  engaged.  There 
was  a  continued  sheet  of  fire  from  the  breastwork  for 
near  half  an  hour,  and  the  action  was  hot  for  about 

8* 


90  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

double  that  period.  In  this  short  space  of  time,  the 
loss  of  the  British,  according  to  General  Gage, 
amounted  to  one  thousand  and  fifty-four,  of  whom 
two  hundred  and  twenty-six  were  killed ;  of  these 
nineteen  were  commissioned  officers,  including  a 
lieutenant-colonel,  two  majors,  and  seven  captains; 
seventy  other  officers  were  wounded. 

The  battle  of  Quebec,  in  the  former  war,  with  all 
its  glory,  and  the  vastness  of  the  consequences 
attending  it,  was  not  so  disastrous  in  the  loss  of 
officers  as  this  affair  of  an  American  intrenchment, 
the  work  of  but  a  few  hours.  The  fact  was,  the 
Americans,  accustomed  to  aim  with  precision,  and  to 
select  objects,  directed  their  skill  principally  against 
the  officers  of  the  British  army,  justly  conceiving  that 
much  confusion  would  ensue  on  their  fall.  Nearly 
all  the  officers  around  the  person  of  General  Howe 
were  killed  or  disabled,  and  the  general  himself  nar- 
rowly escaped.  At  the  battle  of  Minden,  where  the 
British  regiments  sustained  the  force  of  the  whole 
French  army  for  a  considerable  time,  the  number  of 
officers  killed,  including  two  who  died  soon  after  of 
their  wounds,  was  only  thirteen,  and  the  wounded 
sixty-six ;  the  total  loss  of  the  army  on  that  occasion 
was  two  hundred  and  ninety-one  in  killed,  and  one 
thousand  and  thirty-seven  wounded. 

The  British  acknowledged  the  valour  of  their  op- 
ponents, which,  by  no  means  new  to  them,  surpassed 
on  this  occasion  what  could  have  been  expected  of  a 
handful  of  cottagers,  as  they  termed  them,  under 
officers  of  little  military  knowledge,  and  still  less 
experience,  whom  they  affected  to  hold  in  contempt. 


BATTLE    OF    BUNKER'S    HILL.  91 

They  pretended  to  forget  that  many  of  the  common 
soldiers  who  gained  such  laurels  by  their  singular 
bravery  on  the  Plains  of  Abraham,  when  Wolfe  died 
in  the  arms  of  victory,  were  natives  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Bay.  When  Martinique  was  attacked  in 
1761,  and  the  British  force  was  greatly  reduced  by 
sickness  and  mortality,  the  timely  arrival  of  the  New 
England  troops  enabled  the  British  commander  to 
prosecute  the  reduction  of  the  island  to  a  happy  issue. 
A  part  of  the  troops  being  sent  on  an  expedition  to 
the  Havana,  the  New  Englanders,  whose  health 
had  been  much  impaired  by  service  and  the  climate, 
were  embarked  in  three  ships  for  their  native  country, 
with  a  view  to  their  recovery.  Before  they  had  com- 
pleted their  voyage,  they  found  themselves  restored, 
ordered  the  ships  about,  steered  immediately  for  the 
Havana,  arrived  when  the  British  were  too  much 
weakened  to  expect  success,  and  by  their  junction 
contributed  materially  to  the  surrender  of  the  place. 
Their  fidelity,  activity,  and  good  conduct,  were  such 
as  to  gain  the  approbation  and  unbounded  confidence 
of  the  British  officers.  Of  such  elementary  principles 
were  the  heroes  of  Bunker's  Hill  composed.  It  surely 
was  a  misguided  policy  to  rouse  the  opposition  of 
men  made  of  these  materials. 

A  spot  so  fertile  in  great  associations,  could  not 
but  attract  the  special  notice  of  President  Monroe, 
during  his  tour  to  the  eastward.  It  was  precisely 
where  Warren  fell  that  his  excellency  met  the  citizens 
of  Charlestown  on  the  occasion,  and  addressed  them 
as  follows: 

"It  is  highly  gratifying  to  me  to  meet  the  com- 


92  REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 

mittee  of  Charlestown  upon  a  theatre  so  interesting 
to  the  United  States.  It  is  impossible  to  approach 
Bunker's  Hill,  where  the  war  of  the  revolution  com- 
menced with  so  much  honour  to  the  nation,  without 
being  deeply  affected.  The  blood  spilt  here  roused 
the  whole  American  people,  and  united  them  in  a 
common  cause,  in  defence  of  their  rights. — That 
union  will  never  be  broken." 

Whether,  indeed,  we  consider  the  action  of  the 
17th  of  June  in  itself,  or  as  the  prelude  to  succeeding 
events,  we  must  pronounce  it  to  be  the  most  glorious 
of  our  history,  for  the  numbers  engaged  and  the  de- 
fences made  use  of. 

If  we  except  that  of  New  Orleans,  no  parallel  is  to 
be  found  to  it,  in  the  extent  of  impression  produced 
upon  the  enemy.  But  there,  time  had  been  afforded 
for  maturing  the  works,  which  were  constructed  under 
the  superintendence  of  skilful  engineers,  and  extended 
across  a  position  that  could  not  be  outflanked. 
Twelve  hours  only  were  gained  for  those  on  Breed's 
Hill,  formed,  during  a  great  part  of  the  time,  under  a 
heavy  fire  from  the  enemy's  ships,  a  number  of  float- 
ing batteries,  beside  fortifications  which  poured  upon 
them  an  incessant  shower  of  shot  and  shells,  and  left 
incomplete,  owing  to  the  intolerable  cannonade. 

We  shall  close  this  account  with  an  extract  from 
General  Wilkinson's  Memoirs,  vol.  i. 

"In  the  temper  of  the  colonists,  the  deliberate 
attack  on  the  provincials  at  Breed's  Hill,  the  17th  of 
June,  1775,  under  the  orders  of  General  Gage,  be- 
came the  signal  for  a  general  appeal  to  arms.  These, 
indeed,  were  times  which  tried  men's  souls,  but  they 


BATTLE    OF    BUNKER'S   HILL.  93 

have  passed  away,  and  may  they  never  be  forgotten. 
The  personal  services  and  sufferings  of  those  days, 
ought  ever  to  obtain  that  consideration  which  the 
blessings  of  liberty  and  independence  secured  should 
inspire. 

"  On  the  evacuation  of  Boston  by  the  enemy,  I 
accompanied  Colonels  Stark  and  Reed  to  take  a  view 
of  Bunker's  Hill, — that  memorable  theatre  of  action, 
where  the  sword  dissevered  the  ties  of  consanguinity, 
and  cut  asunder  the  social  bonds  that  united  the 
American  colonies  to  the  parent  state. 

"Arrived  on  the  field  of  battle,  where  those 
officers  had  performed  conspicuous  parts,  with  anx- 
ious inquiry  I  traced  the  general  disposition  of  our 
yeomanry  on  that  eventful  day,  and  the  particular 
station  of  each  corps ;  I  marked  the  vestiges  of  the 
post  and  rail  fence  on  the  left,  and  the  breastwork 
thrown  up  on  the  beach  of  Mystic  river,  which 
covered  our  armed  citizens.  I  paced  the  distance  to 
the  point  from  whence  the  British  light  infantry,  after 
three  successive  gallant  charges,  were  finally  repulsed. 
I  examined  the  redoubt,  the  intrenchment,  the  land- 
ings and  approaches  of  the  enemy,  and  every  point 
of  attack  and  defence.  Resting  on  the  parapet, 
where  nine  months  before  '  valour's  self  might  have 
stood  appalled,'  I  surveyed  the  whole  ground  at  a 
glance,  and  eagerly  devoured  the  information  im- 
parted by  my  brave  companions. 

"With  a  throbbing  breast  I  stepped  from  this 
ground  of  unequal  conflict,  where  American  farmers, 
contending  for  the  rights  of  nature,  for  their  wives 
and  children,  and  posterity  unborn,  bared  their 


94  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

bosoms  to  the  bayonets  of  veteran  mercenaries — 
where  victory  so  long  balanced  between  native 
courage  and  disciplined  bravery,  between  freemen 
who  contended  for  liberty,  and  the  armed  ruffian  who 
fights  for  bread;  and  following  my  leaders,  we 
traversed  the  ruins  of  Charlestown,  lately  the  abode 
of  thousands  animated  by  the  buzz  of  active  industry 
and  social  happiness,  now  buried  in  its  own  ashes. 

"  The  resolution  displayed  by  the  provincials  on 
this  memorable  day,  produced  effects  auspicious  to 
the  American  cause,  and  co-extensive  with  the  war ; 
for,  although  compelled  by  superior  numbers  to  yield 
the  ground,  the  obstinacy  of  their  resistance  put  an 
end  to  that  confidence  with  which  they  had  been  first 
attacked,  and  produced  measures  of  caution  bordering 
on  timidity.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  we  were 
indebted  to  these  causes  for  the  unmolested  occu- 
pancy of  our  position  before  Boston,  which,  to  com- 
plete the  investment,  was  necessarily  extended  from 
Roxbury  on  the  right,  to  Mystic  river  on  the  left,  a 
rectilinear  distance  of  about  four  miles. 

"  To  the  cool  courage  and  obstinacy  displayed  on 
the  occasion,  and  the  moral  influence  of  the  bloody 
lesson  which  Sir  William  Howe  received  on  that 
day,  we  must  ascribe  the  military  phenomenon  of  a 
motley  band  of  undisciplined  American  yeomanry, 
scarcely  superior  in  number,  holding  an  army  of 
British  veterans  in  close  siege  for  nine  months ;  and 
hence  it  might  fairly  be  inferred,  that  our  inde- 
pendence was  essentially  promoted  by  the  conse- 
quences of  this  single  battle." 


Kuiiis    of    Ticonderoga. 


CAPTURE  OF  TICONDEROGA. 

HE  necessity  of  se- 
curing Ticonderoga 
was  early  attended 
to  by  many  in  New 
England ;  but  some 
Connecticut  gentle- 
men were  first  in 
attempting  the  mea- 
sure. Secrecy  was  essential  to  success ;  and  delay 
might  be  dangerous.  There  was  no  waiting  to  consult 


96  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

the  Continental  Congress ;  beside,  it  would  not  have 
been  safe  to  have  communicated  the  scheme  to  that 
body,  as  it  was  known  there  would  be  individuals  in 
it  on  whose  fidelity  the  Americans  could  not  rely. 

Messrs.  Deane,  Woostsr,  Parsons,  and  others  un- 
dertook the  affair.  They  applied  to  the  assembly  for 
a  loan,  which  was  furnished,  to  the  amount  of  about 
eighteen  hundred  dollars,  on  which  they  gave  bonds 
to  be  accountable.  General  Gage  had  set  the  example 
of  attempting  to  seize  upon  military  stores,  and  by  so 
doing  had  commenced  hostilities ;  so  that  retaliation 
appeared  more  than  warrantable,  even  an  act  of  self- 
defence. 

The  expedition  went  on  with  rapidity.  Several 
militia  captains  pushed  forward  to  Salisbury  to  ac- 
quaint Messrs.  Blagdens  with  the  design,  and  to  pro- 
cure their  assistance.  One  was  ill,  the  other  joined  in 
the  proposed  manoeuvre.  After  a  little  deliberation, 
they  concluded  upon  spending  no  time  in  obtaining 
men;  but,  having  provided  a  sufficient  quantity  of 
powder  and  ball,  set  off  on  horseback  for  Bennington 
to  engage  Colonel  Allen.  They  conferred  with  him 
upon  their  arrival ;  and  then  remained  with  others  to 
bake  bread,  and  prepare  other  necessaries,  while  the 
colonel  went  on  to  raise  the  men  who  were  wanting, 
and  who  were  to  meet  the  managers  at  Castleton. 

o 

While  these  were  on  their  way  to  the  place  of  ren- 
dezvous, they  were  met  by  a  countryman,  apparently 
an  undesigning  honest  traveller,  but  who  was  either 
himself  well-skilled  and  a  principal,  or  had  been  well- 
tutored  by  some  one  or  other,  that  had  either  suspect- 
ed or  gained  knowledge  of  the  expedition,  and  meant 


CAPTURE  OF    TICONDEROGA.  97 

to  render  it  abortive.  They  addressed  him,  "  From 
whence  came  you  ?"  "  From  Ty ;  left  it  yesterday," 
at  such  an  hour.  "Has  the  garrison  received  any 
reinforcement  ? "  "  Yes ;  I  saw  them ;'  there  were  a 
number  of  artillery  men  and  other  soldiers."  "  What 
are  they  doing  ?  Are  they  making  fascines  ?"  "  Don't 
know  what  fascines  are.  They  are  tying  up  sticks 
and  brush  in  bundles,  and  putting  them  where  the  walls 
are  down."  Mr.  Samuel  Blagden  put  many  ensnaring 
questions  about  the  dress  and  trimmings  of  the  men, 
&c.  The  answers  tended  to  confirm  the  man's  story. 
The  company  was  staggered ;  and  it  being  debated  in 
council,  whether  they  should  not  return,  as  they  had 
no  cannon,  it  was  determined  by  a  majority  of  one 
only  to  proceed. 

At  Castleton  they  met  Colonel  Allen  with  his  men, 
and  altogether  made  two  hundred  and  seventy  persons ; 
two  hundred  and  thirty  of  them  were  Green  Mountain 
boys,  so  called  from  their  residing  within  the  limits  of 
the  Green  Mountains,  as  the  Hampshire  grants  are 
denominated,  from  the  range  of  green  mountains  that 
runs  through  them.  They  are  a  brave  hardy  gen- 
eration, chiefly  settlers  from  New  Hampshire,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  Connecticut.  Sentries  were  placed  im- 
mediately on  all  the  roads,  to  prevent  any  intelligence 
being  carried  to  Ticonderoga. 

After  the  junction  at  Castleton,  Colonel  Arnold  ar- 
rived, with  only  a  single  servant.  The  day  after  his 
getting  to  Cambridge  with  his  volunteer  company,  he 
attended  on  the  Massachusetts  committee  of  safety, 
and  reported  that  there  were  at  Ticonderoga,  eighty 
pieces  of  heavy  cannon,  twenty  of  brass  from  four  to 
9  G 


98  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

eighteen-pounders,  ten  or  a  dozen  mortars,  a  number 
of  small  arms,  and  considerable  stores ;  and  that  the 
fort  was  in  a  ruinous  condition,  and  as  he  supposed 
garrisoned  by  'about  forty  men.  Upon  this  the  com- 
mittee, on  the  3d  of  May,  appointed  him  a  colonel 
of  four  hundred  men,  whom  he  was  to  enlist  and  march 
for  the  reduction  of  Ticonderoga.  The  colonel  was 
known  only  to  Mr.  Blagden.  A  council  was  called ; 
his  powers  were  examined ;  and  at  length  it  was  agreed, 
that  he  should  be  admitted  to  join  and  act  with  them, 
that  so  the  public  might  be  benefited.  It  was  settled, 
however,  that  Colonel  Allen  should  have  the  supreme 
command,  and  Colonel  Arnold  was  to  be  his  assistant ; 
with  which  the  latter  appeared  satisfied,  as  he  had  no 
right  by  his  commission,  either  to  command  or  interfere 
with  the  others,  who  were  not  only  out  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts line,  but  the  subjects  of  another  colony. 
The  names  of  the  leaders,  besides  what  have  been 
mentioned,  were  Messrs.  Motte,  Phelps,  (two  brothers) 
Bigelow,  Bull,  and  Nichols,  beside  Colonels  Easton, 
Brown,  and  Warner,  and  Captain  Dickinson. 

After  it  had  been  determined  in  a  council  to  set  off 
the  next  morning  early  for  "Ty,"  and  some  of  the  man- 
agers had  retired,  a  second  council  was  held,  and  it 
was  concluded  to  proceed  that  very  night,  leaving 
Messrs.  Blagden,  Bigelow,  and  Nichols,  with  a  party 
of  men,  thirty  in  all,  officers  included,  to  march  early 
in  the  morning  for  Skeensborough,  and  secure  Major 
Skeen,  his  negroes  and  tenants.  This  council  might 
have  been  occasioned  by  the  return  of  Captain  Noah 
Phelps,  who  the  day  before,  having  disguised  himself, 
entered  the  fort  in  the  character  of  a  countryman 


h 

?•   •  if t"  ' !    ,i-        f        i  — 

v/s 


CAPTURE    OF    TICONDEROGA.  101 

wanting  to  be  shaved.  In  hunting  for  a  barber,  he 
observed  everything  critically,  asked  a  number  of 
rustic  questions,  affected  great  ignorance,  and  passed 
unsuspected.  Before  night  he  withdrew,  came  and 
joined  his  party,  and  in  the  morning  guided  them  to 
the  place  of  destination. 

Colonel  Allen,  with  his  two  hundred  and  thirty 
Green  Mountain  boys,  arrived  at  Lake  Champlain,  and 
opposite  to  Ticonderoga,  on  the  9th,  at  night.  Boats 
were  procured,  with  difficulty,  when  he  and  Colonel 
Arnold  crossed  over  with  eighty-three  men,  and 
landed  near  the  garrison.  Here  a  dispute  took  place 
between  the  colonels ;  the  latter  became  assuming,  and 
swore  he  would  go  in  first;  the  other  swore  he  should 
not.  The  gentlemen  present  interposed,  and  the 
matter  was  accommodated,  upon  the  footing  that  both 
should  go  in  together.  They  advanced  alongside 
of  each  other,  Colonel  Allen  on  the  right  hand  of 
Colonel  Arnold,  and  entered  the  port  leading  to  the 
fort,  in  the  gray  of  the  morning,  (May  10.)  A  sentry 
snapped  his  fusee  at  Colonel  Allen,  and  then  retreated 
through  the  covered  way  to  the  parade ;  the  main 
body  of  Americans  followed,  and  immediately  drew 
up.  Captain  De  la  Place,  the  commander,  was  sur- 
prised abed  in  his  room.  He  was  ordered  to  give  up 
the  fort ;  upon  his  asking  by  what  authority,  Colonel 
Allen  replied,  "  I  demand  it  in  the  name  of  the  great 
Jehovah,  and  the  Continental  Congress."  The  Con- 
gress knew  nothing  of  the  matter,  and  did  not  com- 
mence their  existence  till  some  hours  after.  When 
they  began  their  session,  they  chose  the  Honourable 
Peyton  Randolph  president,  and  Mr.  Charles  Thom- 
9* 


102  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

son  secretary,  each  with  a  unanimous  voice;  and 
having  agreed  "  That  the  Reverend  Mr.  Duche  be 
requested  to  open  the  Congress  with  prayers  to- 
morrow morning,"  and  appointed  a  committee  to 
acquaint  him  with  their  request,  adjourned  till  the 
next  day.  Had  Captain  De  la  Place  been  upon  the 
parade  with  his  men,  he  could  have  made  no  effectual 
resistance.  The  fort  was  out  of  repair,  and  he  had 
but  about  thirty  effectives.  Could  he  have  gained 
timely  intelligence,  he  might  have  procured  a  re- 
inforcement from  St.  John's. 

After  Colonel  Allen  had  landed,  the  boats  were 
sent  back  for  the  remainder  of  the  men  under 
Colonel  Seth  Warren;  but  the  place  was  surprised 
before  he  could  get  over.  Immediately  upon  his 
joining  the  successful  party,  he  was  sent  off  to  take 
possession  of  Crown  Point,  where  a  sergeant  and 
twelve  men  performed  garrison  duty ;  but  the  greatest 
acquisition  was  that  of  more  than  a  hundred  pieces 
of  cannon.  The  complete  command  of  Lake  Cham- 
plain  was  of  high  importance  to  the  Americans,  and 
could  not  be  effected  without  their  getting  possession 
of  a  sloop-of-war  lying  at  St.  John's,  at  the  foot  of 
the  lake.  It  was  determined  to  man  and  arm  a 
schooner  lying  at  South  Bay,  and  that  Colonel  Arnold 
should  command  her ;  and  that  Colonel  Allen  should 
command  the  batteaux,  a  name  generally  affixed  to 
boats  of  a  particular  construction,  calculated  for 
navigating  the  lakes  and  rivers,  and  drawing  but  little 
water,  though  heavily  laden.  The  wind  being  fresh 
from  the  south,  the  schooner  outsailed  the  batteaux, 
and  Colonel  Arnold  surprised  the  sloop.  The  wind 


CAPTURE  OF    TICONDEROGA.  103 

shifting  suddenly  to  the  north,  and  blowing  fresh,  in 
about  an  hour's  time  Colonel  Arnold  sailed  with  the 
prize  and  schooner  for  Ticonderoga,  and  met  Colonel 
Allen  with  his  party. 

The  surprise  of  Skeensborough  was  so  conducted 
that  the  negroes  were  all  secured,  and  Major  Skeen, 
the  son,  taken  while  out  shooting,  and  his  strong 
stone  house  possessed,  and  the  pass  completely 
gained,  without  any  bloodshed,  the  same  as  at  Ticon- 
deroga. Had  the  major  received  the  least  intimation, 
the  attempt  must  have  miscarried ;  for  he  had  about 
fifty  tenants  near  at  hand,  besides  eight  negroes  and 
twelve  workmen. 

Colonel  Allen  soon  left  Ticonderoga  under  the 
command  of  Colonel  Arnold,  with  a  number  of  men, 
who  agreed  to  remain  in  garrison. 

When  the  news  of  Ticonderoga's  being  taken 
reached  the  Continental  Congress,  they  earnestly 
recommended  it  to  the  committees  of  the  cities  and 
counties  of  New  York  and  Albany,  immediately  to 
cause  the  cannon  and  stores  to  be  removed  from 
thence  to  the  south  end  of  Lake  George;  but  that 
an  exact  inventory  should  be  taken  of  them,  "in 
order  that  they  may  be  safely  returned,  when  the 
restoration  of  the  former  harmony  between  Great 
Britain  and  these  colonies,  so  ardently  wished  for  by 
the  latter,  shall  render  it  prudent,  and  consistent  with 
the  overruling  law  of  self-preservation."  Whatever 
may  have  been  the  drift  of  a  few  in  Congress,  that  body 
wished  to  keep  the  door  open  for  an  accommodation. 
This  was  apparent  in  the  advice  they  gave  the  New 
Yorkers,  three  days  before  the  preceding  recommen- 


104  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

dation.  The  city  and  county  of  New  York  applied 
to  them  for  information  how  to  conduct  towards  the 
troops  expected  there.  The  Congress  resolved, "  That 
it  be  recommended,  for  the  present,  to  the  inhabitants 
of  New  York,  that  if  the  troops  which  are  expected 
should  arrive,  the  said  colony  act  on  the  defensive,  so 
long  as  may  be  consistent  with  their  safety  and 
security ;  that  the  troops  be  permitted  to  remain  in 
the  barracks,  so  long  as  they  behave  peaceably  and 
quietly,  but  that  they  be  not  suffered  to  erect  fortifi- 
cations, or  take  any  steps  for  cutting  off  the  commu- 
nication between  the  town  and  country ;  and  that  if 
they  commit  hostilities  or  invade  private  property, 
the  inhabitants  should  defend  themselves  and  their 
property,  and  repel  force  by  force ;  that  the  warlike 
stores  be  removed  from  the  town;  that  places  of 
retreat,  in  case  of  necessity,  be  provided  for  the 
women  and  children  of  New  York;  and  that  a  suf- 
ficient number  of  men  be  embodied,  and  kept  in 
constant  readiness  for  protecting  the  inhabitants  from 
insult  and  injury." 


1 
w^*-:.       ^    '      ..;    '.\    , 

.-_ 


Washington. 


SECOND  CONTINENTAL  CONGRESS -WASHING- 
TON'S APPOINTMENT. 

EANTIME  Congress,  having 
,7  met  on  the  10th  of  May,  re- 
ceived a  report  of  these  trans- 
actions, which  called  for  their 
most  earnest  consideration.  Some,  it 
is  said,  were  unprepared  for  so  serious 
a  result;  but  the  general  resolution 
was  to  follow  it  up,  and  place  all  the  colonies  in  a  pos- 
ture of  military  defence.  Still,  before  adopting  any 
active  measures,  they  determined,  though  with  some 
dissentient  voices,  to  make  fresh  appeals  to  the  king 
and  people  of  Great  Britain.  To  his  majesty  they 
professed  as  strongly  as  ever  their  devotion  to  his 
person,  family,  and  government ;  their  deep  regret  at 
any  event  which  could  weaken  their  connexion  with 


108  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

his  crown,  and  their  ardent  desire  for  the  restoration 
of  harmony.  To  the  people  they  strenuously  repelled 
the  charge  of  aiming  at  independence,  which  none  of 
their  actions  were  said  to  justify.  They  had  never 
made  overtures  to  any  foreign  power,  nor  availed 
themselves  of  the  weak  state  of  the  cities,  to  become 
masters  of  them.  The  late  hostilities  had  beei? 
merely  the  repulse  of  a  wanton  attack;  they  had 
lamented  the  wounds  they  were  obliged  to  give,  and 
had  not  yet  learned  to  rejoice  at  a  victory  over 
Englishmen.  The  armies  were  said  to  be  raised  with 
objects  purely  defensive,  and  the  fortresses  seized 
merely  as  a  preventive  against  invasion  from  Canada. 
Complaining,  however,  that  the  clemency  of  their 
sovereign  was  diverted,  that  their  petitions  were 
treated  with  indignity,  and  that  their  prayers  were 
answered  by  insults;  they  dreaded  that  the  nation 
wanted  either  the  will  or  the  power  to  assist  them. 
In  that  case,  they  expressed  a  firm  determination 
that,  "  while  we  revere  the  memory  of  our  gallant  and 
virtuous  ancestors,  we  never  can  surrender  those 
glorious  privileges  for  which  they  fought,  bled,  and 
conquered ; — your  fleets  and  armies  can  destroy  our 
towns  and  ravage  our  coasts ;  these  are  inconsiderable 
objects, — things  of  no  moment  to  men  whose  bosoms 
glow  with  the  ardour  of  liberty.  We  can  retire  beyond 
the  reach  of  your  navy,  and,  without  any  sensible 
diminution  of  the  necessaries  of  life,  enjoy  a  luxury, 
which  from  that  period  you  will  want, — the  luxury  of 
being  free." 

Having  emitted  these  declarations,  Congress  pro- 
ceeded to  make  military  arrangements  which  should 


APPOINTMENT    OF    WASHINGTON.  109 

comprehend  the  whole  range  of  the  colonies.     All  the 
troops  within  their  limits  were  to  be  now  called  the 
Continental   Army;   committees   were   appointed  to 
devise  ways  and  means  for  supporting  and  supplying 
it  with  arms  and  stores,  and  preparing  regulations  for 
its  government.     An  issue  of  paper-money  was  voted 
to  the  amount  of  three  millions  of  dollars.     The  first 
object  was  considered  to  be  the  choice  of  a  command- 
er, and  in  this  respect  they  were  singularly  fortunate. 
There  had  at  this  time  sprung  up  among  them  an  un- 
common number  of  men  of  distinguished  abilities ;  and 
though  some  were  in  this  respect  superior  to  him,  it 
was   generally  agreed    that  the  fittest   person  was 
George  Washington.     Without  very  brilliant  talents, 
or  even  very  extensive  information,  he  possessed  sound 
sense,   comprehensive    views,  a  deep    and   devoted 
patriotism.     These  had  been  displayed  in  a  manner 
so  firm,  simple,  and  manly,  as  rendered  it  impossible 
even  to  entertain  a  doubt  of  the  thorough  dependence 
which  might  be  placed  on  his  fidelity  to  the  cause. 
A  bold  and  enterprising  spirit  was  tempered  with  a 
feeling  of  actual  difficulties,  sometimes  even  extreme, 
which  prevented  it  from  degenerating  into  rashness. 
His  steady  honour  and  humanity  softened  the  horrors 
of  a  contest,  which  among  the  lower  class  of  states- 
men excited  the  most  imbittered  feelings.     Appre- 
hensions  were    entertained    that   Massachusetts,  in 
virtue  of  her  great  exertions,  would  claim  the  nomi- 
nation ;  but  Mr.  Adams,  her  leading  deputy,  was  the 
first  to  propose  the  Virginian,  and  the  recommen- 
dation, being  submitted  to  ballot,  was  unanimously 
approved.    Next  day  the  choice  was  announced  to 
10 


110 


REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 


him,  when,  in  a  plain,  modest  reply,  he  expressed  his 
high  sense  of  the  honour,  not  concealing  the  pain 
which  arose  from  a  consciousness  that  his  abilities 
and  military  experience  might  not  be  equal  to  so 
mighty  a  trust.  Yet  he  assured  them  he  would  enter 
on  the  momentous  duty,  and  exert  every  power  he 
possessed  in  so  great  a  cause.  Five  hundred  dollars 
monthly  had  been  voted  for  his  pay  and  expenses  ; 
but  being  possessed  of  an  ample  fortune,  he  declined 
anything  beyond  the  reimbursement  of  his  actual 
outlay. 


SIEGE  OF  BOSTON. 


rP 

• 


colonists  had  thus  expe- 
rienced  an  almost  uninter- 
rupted career  of  success,  and, 
with  the  exception  of  Boston, 
England  had  not  a  spot  left 
in  the  whole  range  of  their 
territory.  Yet  reflecting  men 
easily  saw,  that  they  had  prevailed  only  against 
an  advanced  guard  and  scattered  detachments,  and 
that  the  struggle  had  not  yet  commenced  with  the 
main  force  of  the  British  empire.  Washington, 
meantime,  on  proceeding  to  the  army,  was  received 
in  the  most  cordial  manner,  and  without  the  smallest 
sy  mptom  of  jealousy  ;  the  provincial  congress  sending 
a  committee  to  meet  him  at  Springfield  on  the 
frontier,  and  escort  him  to  Boston.  He  there  found 
fourteen  thousand  five  hundred  men,  able-bodied, 

10*  H 


114  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

zealous  in  the  cause,  and  personally  courageous,  but 
destitute  of  almost  every  element  of  military  organi- 
zation. A  great  proportion  wanted  bayonets,  and 
the  alarming  discovery  was  soon  made  that  they  had 
not  above  nine  rounds  of  gunpowder.  There  were 
no  tents,  and  clothes  extremely  deficient ;  there  was 
neither  commissary  nor  quartermaster-general.  No 
combination  existed  between  the  troops  drawn  from 
different  colonies ;  and  the  officers,  mostly  chosen  by 
the  men,  could  exercise  scarcely  any  authority.  These 
evils  were  the  more  difficult  to  remedy,  as  the  army, 
enlisted  only  for  a  short  period,  would  disband  in  a 
few  months,  and  be  replaced  by  one  composed  of  raw 
recruits.  In  these  circumstances,  Washington  anxiously 
desired  to  make  an  attack  upon  Boston,  and  dislodge 
the  troops  before  the  large  expected  reinforcements 
should  arrive,  when  the  prospects  could  not  but  be- 
come gloomy.  Yet  a  council  of  officers  decided, 
seemingly  on  good  grounds,  that  such  an  attempt 
could  have  no  chance  of  success ;  and  he  was  obliged, 
very  reluctantly,  to  await  the  turn  which  events  might 
take. 

In  the  meantime,  Washington  laboured  under  accu- 
mulated difficulties  in  prosecuting  the  blockade  of 
Boston.  The  scarcity  of  ammunition,  notwithstanding 
every  effort  of  Congress,  continued  almost  unabated ; 
while  the  want  of  money,  as  well  as  of  necessary 
equipments,  was  deeply  felt  on  the  advance  of  the 
rigorous  season.  With  all  his  energy  and  firmness, 
he  seems  to  have  been  exceedingly  sensitive  to 
troubles  and  opposition.  He  describes  his  situation 
as  inexpressibly  distressing, — the  winter  approaching 


SIEGE    OF    BOSTON.  115 

on  an  army  at  once  naked  and  without  a  dollar ;  and 
declares  that  unless  some  remedy  were  devised,  the 
force  must  be  broken  up.  Amid  all  these  distresses, 
it  was  necessary  to  keep  up  a  good  face  towards  the 
enemy,  while  many  on  his  own  side,  exaggerating  both 
the  numbers  and  efficiency  of  his  troops,  wondered 
he  should  remain  inactive,  and  not  have  already 
driven  the  English  out  of  Boston.  These  criticisms 
touched  him  sensibly ;  yet,  as  a  true  patriot,  he  care- 
fully concealed  the  explanation,  which,  reaching  the 
opposite  party,  would  have  produced  fatal  effects. 
Even  Congress,  with  a  jealousy  of  military  power,  in 
his  case  very  unjust,  were  indisposed  to  measures 
most  requisite  for  the  success  of  his  army.  As  none 
of  any  importance  could  be  taken  without  their  con- 
currence, as  well  as  that  of  the  provincial  assemblies, 
they  were  always  delayed,  and  often  obstructed. 

An  imminent  danger  now  impended;  December 
approached,  when  the  troops,  having  been  enlisted  for 
only  one  year,  were  all  entitled  to  return  home.  To 
this  subject  the  commander  earnestly  solicited  the 
attention  of  Congress,  and  on  the  18th  of  October  a 

~  7 

committee  of  their  number,  Franklin,  Lynch,  and 
Harrison,  arrived  at  his  head-quarters.  Being  per- 
sons of  judgment,  they  arranged  matters  very  satis- 
factorily. Authority  was  given  to  levy  twenty-six 
regiments,  estimated  at  somewhat  above  twenty 
thousand  men,  independently  of  militia.  Congress 
would  not  consent,  however,  to  the  enlistment  for  more 
than  a  year,  nor  would  they,  till  the  next  January, 
agree  to  grant  a  bounty.  Washington  made  the 
strongest  appeals  to  the  men,  entreating  them  by 


116  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

every  motive  of  honour  and  patriotism  to  adhere  to 
those  standards  under  which  they  had  gloriously 
fought.  But  that  ardent  impulse  which  had  called 
them  to  arms  was  now  sensibly  cooled ;  and  when  the 
time  arrived,  not  above  five  thousand  had  engaged. 
These  were  afterwards  reinforced;  but  this  disso- 
lution of  one  army  and  assemblage  of  another,  in  the 
face  of  an  enemy  whose  force  was  constantly  in- 
creasing, placed  the  commander  in  a  very  critical 
situation. 

He  was  also  harassed  from  another  quarter.  The 
English  in  Boston,  being  straitened  for  provisions, 
sought  to  procure  them  by  descents  on  different  parts 
of  the  coast,  treating  the  inhabitants,  who  were  uni- 
formly hostile,  with  very  little  ceremony.  Falmouth 
suffered  such  a  severe  cannonade  and  bombardment 
as  to  reduce  it  to  ashes,  and  it  was  reported  or 
dreaded  that  a  similar  fate  impended  over  the  other 
seaports.  Urgent  applications  were  made  to  the 
commander-in-chief  for  aid ;  but  he  represented  that 
his  army  was  barely  adequate  to  blockade  Boston, 
and  could  not  be  broken  down  into  detachments  for 
local  objects,  which  ought  to  be  provided  for  by  the 
militia  of  the  districts.  His  views  were  sanctioned 
by  Congress.  He  endeavoured,  however,  to  protect 
the  shore  by  forming  a  small  marine,  placing  troops  on 
board  the  vessels ;  and  in  a  few  weeks  six  schooners 
were  fitted  out.  They  were  fortunate  enough  soon 
to  capture  a  ship  laden  with  military  stores,  most 
valuable  for  the  supply  of  the  army.  In  other  respects 
this  force  was  for  some  time  inefficient,  and  its  dis- 
cipline very  imperfect ;  but  it  was  gradually  improved; 


SIEGE    OF    BOSTON.  117 

prize  courts  and  regulations  were  formed,  and  its 
privateering  operations  proved  ultimately  very  harass- 
ing to  the  British. 

Meantime,  General  Gage  remained  inactive  at 
Boston ;  a  course  generally  condemned  by  historians 
as  at  once  unaccountable  and  shameful.  Yet,  besides 
being  by  no  means  fully  aware  of  Washington's 
weakness,  he  assigned  other  reasons  which  appear 
conclusive.  Though  he  might  have  dislodged  the 
Americans  from  their  position,  little  would  have  been 
gained  by  marching  into  the  interior  of  New  England, 
a  territory  full  of  people  animated  with  peculiar  zeal 
in  the  cause  of  independence,  and  which,  though 
containing  many  small  towns,  offered  no  central  or 
leading  point  of  attack.  He  must  merely  have 
moved  from  place  to  place,  continually  harassed  by 
that  desultory  warfare  in  which  they  had  shown 
themselves  to  excel.  In  the  beginning  of  October  he 
was  recalled,  without  any  expression  of  displeasure, 
yet  probably  under  the  impression  of  the  disasters 
which  the  cause  had  sustained  in  his  hands,  and  the 
hope  that  it  might  be  more  fortunate  in  those  of 
another.  The  command  then  devolved  upon  Howe, 
who  concurred  with  his  predecessor  as  to  the  inex- 
pediency of  advancing  into  the  interior  of  New 
England.  He  submitted  to  the  cabinet  another  plan, 
by  which  Boston  should  be  held  only  till  the  close  of 
the  winter,  and  the  troops  there,  with  all  those  ex- 
pected from  the  mother  country,  be  then  concentrated 
at  New  York,  and  the  main  attack  made  from  that 
quarter.  The  inhabitants  were  more  loyal,  and  by 
striking  at  the  heart  of  the  Union  he  would  separate 


118  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

the  northern  and  southern  states,  and  then,  according 
to  circumstances,  carry  on  operations  against  either. 
Washington,  meantime,  was  very  slowly  recruiting 
his  army,  which,  at  the  beginning  of  February,  did 
not  reach  quite  nine  thousand  men.  Being  at  that 
period  permitted  to  offer  a  bounty,  he  had  in  a  month 
collected  above  fourteen  thousand,  reinforced  by  six 
thousand  Massachusetts  militia.  He  considered  this 
force  sufficient  to  attack  the  city;  but  a  council  of 
officers  decided,  probably  with  reason,  that  such  an 
attempt  offered  no  chance  of  success.  They  pro- 
posed rather  to  seize  and  fortify  the  peninsular  point 
named  Dorchester  Neck,  whence  the  harbour  would 
be  in  a  great  degree  commanded,  and  the  place,  it 
was  hoped,  rendered  untenable.  To  this  he  con- 
sented, though  with  great  chagrin;  and  the  exe- 
cution of  the  movement  was  intrusted  to  General 
Ward.  The  British  were  amused  two  days  by  an 
incessant  cannonade  and  bombardment, — till  at  night- 
fall of  the  4th  of  March,  General  Thomas,  with  a 
working  body  of  twelve  hundred,  a  covering  force  of 
eight  hundred,  and  three  hundred  carts  of  materials, 
marched  undiscovered,  and  took  possession  of  the 
most  elevated  part  of  the  heights.  The  Americans, 
being  chiefly  practical  farmers,  were  extremely  skilful 
in  intrenching,  and  laboured  with  such  diligence,  that 
in  the  morning  the  English  with  astonishment  beheld 
them  in  a  strongly  fortified  position.  The  admiral 
then  gave  notice  to  Howe,  that  the  harbour  could  not 
be  deemed  secure  as  long  as  this  post  was  held  by 
the  Americans.  Lord  Percy,  with  three  thousand  men, 
was  employed  to  dislodge  them ;  but  a  violent  storm 


SIEGE    OF    BOSTON.  119 

rendered  the  operation  impossible,  and  before  it  dis- 
persed the  works  were  considered  beyond  the  reach 
of  assault.  Washington  had  prepared  a  select  corps 
to  attack  the  town,  while  its  main  force  should  be 
directed  against  the  heights ;  but  this  project,  never 
very  feasible,  was  now  of  course  given  up.  The 
British  commander  then  prepared  to  evacuate  the 
place. 

On  the  17th  the  enemy  embarked  in  their  ships, 
and  after  remaining  a  few  days  in  Nantasket  roads, 
sailed  towards  Halifax.  General  Putnam  immedi- 
ately entered  Boston,  which  was  found  strongly 
fortified,  and  quite  uninjured.  Washington  enter- 
tained great  apprehension  that  the  city  would  be 
destroyed,  though  the  English  seem  never  to  have 
entertained  any  such  idea;  and  some  cannon  and 
stores,  which  could  not  be  carried  away,  became 
available  to  him. 


INCIDENTS  AT  THE  EVACUATION  OF  BOSTON. 

HE  circumstances  which  led 
to  the  evacuation  of  Boston, 
and  a  lively  description  of 
that  joyous  event,  are  given 
as  follows  by  Dr.  Thacher, 
one  of  the  surgeons  of  Gene- 
ral Washington's  army,  in 
his  Military  Journal  of  the 
Revolutionary  War. 
March  4th. — The  object  in  view  is  now  generally 
understood  to  be  the  occupying  and  fortifying  the  ad- 
vantageous heights  of  Dorchester.  A  detachment  of 
our  troops  is  ordered  to  march  for  this  purpose  this 
evening ;  and  our  regiment,  with  several  others,  has 


EVACUATION    OF    BOSTON.  123 

received  orders  to  march  at  four  'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing, to  relieve  them.  We  are  favoured  with  a  full 
bright  moon,  and  the  night  is  remarkably  mild  and 
pleasant;  the  preparations  are  immense;  more  than 
three  hundred  loaded  carts  are  in  motion.  By  the 
great  exertions  of  General  Mifflin,  our  quartermaster- 
general,  the  requisite  number  of  teams  has  been  pro- 
cured. The  covering  party  of  eight  hundred  men 
advance  in  front.  Then  follow  the  carts  with  the 
intrenching  tools  ;  after  which,  the  working  party  of 
twelve  hundred,  commanded  by  General  Thomas,  of 
Kingston.  Next  in  the  martial  procession  are  a  train 
of  carts,  loaded  with  fascines  and  hay,  screwed  into 
large  bundles  of  seven  or  eight  hundred  weight.  The 
whole  procession  moves  on  in  solemn  silence,  and 
with  perfect  order  and  regularity ;  while  the  continued 
roar  of  cannon  serves  to  engage  the  attention  and 
divert  the  enemy  from  the  main  object. 

5th. — At  about  four  o'clock  our  regiment  followed 
to  the  heights  of  Dorchester  as  a  relief  party.  On 
passing  Dorchester  Neck  I  observed  a  vast  number  of 
large  bundles  of  screwed  hay,  arranged  in  a  line  next 
the  enemy,  to  protect  our  troops  from  a  raking  fire,  to 
which  we  should  have  been  greatly  exposed,  while 
passing  and  repassing.  The  carts  were  still  in  motion 
with  materials;  some  of  them  have  made  three  or 
four  trips.  On  the  heights  we  found  two  forts  in 
considerable  forwardness,  and  sufficient  for  a  defence 
against  small  arms  and  grape-shot.  The  amount  of 
labour  performed  during  the  night,  considering  the 
earth  is  frozen  eighteen  inches  deep,  is  almost 
incredible.  The  enemy  having  discovered  our  works 


124  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

in  the  morning,  commenced  a  tremendous  cannonade 
from  the  forts  in  Boston,  and  from  their  shipping  in 
the  harbour.  Cannon-shot  are  continually  rolling  and 
rebounding  over  the  hill;  and  it  is  astonishing  to  ob- 
serve how  little  our  soldiers  are  terrified  by  them. 
During  the  forenoon  we  were  in  momentary  expecta- 
tion of  witnessing  an  awful  scene ;  nothing  less  than 
the  carnage  of  Breed's  hill  battle  was  expected.  The 
royal  troops  are  perceived  to  be  in  motion,  as  if  embark- 
ing to  pass  the  harbour,  and  land  on  Dorchester  shore, 
to  attack  our  works.  The  hills  and  elevations  in  this 
vicinity  are  covered  with  spectators  to  witness  deeds 
of  horror  in  the  expected  conflict.  His  excellency 
General  Washington  is  present,  animating  and  en- 
couraging the  soldiers,  and  they  in  return  manifest 
their  joy,  and  express  a  warm  desire  for  the  approach 
of  the  enemy;  each  man  knows  his  place,  and  is  reso- 
lute to  execute  his  duty.  Our  breastworks  are 
strengthene'd,  and  among  the  means  of  defence  are  a 
great  number  of  barrels,  filled  with  stones  and  sand, 
arranged  in  front  of  our  works ;  which  are  to  be  put 
in  motion  and  made  to  roll  down  the  hill,  to  break  the 
ranks  and  legs  of  the  assailants  as  they  advance. 
These  are  the  preparations  for  blood  and  slaugh- 
ter !  Gracious  God !  if  it  be  determined  in  thy  provi- 
dence that  thousands  of  our  fellow-creatures  shall  this 
day  be  slain,  let  thy  wrath  be  appeased,  and  in  mercy 
grant,  that  victory  be  on  the  side  of  our  suffering, 

bleeding  country. The  anxious   day  has  closed; 

and  the  enemy  has  failed  to  molest  us.     From  appear- 
ances, however,  there  are  strong  reasons  to  suppose 
that  they  have  only  postponed  their  meditated  work 


EVACUATION  OF    BOSTON.  125 

till  another  day.  It  is  presumed  that  the  martial  fire, 
which  has  been  enkindled  in  the  breasts  of  our  sol- 
diery, will  not  be  extinguished  during  the  night,  and 
that  they  will  not  rest  quietly  under  their  disappoint- 
ment. Early  in  the  morning  of  the  6th,  our  regiment 
was  relieved  from  its  tour  of  duty,  and  I  bade  adieu  to 
Dorchester  Heights,  without  being  called  to  dress  a 
single  wound.  Not  more  than  two  or  three  men  were 
killed  or  wounded  during  the  twenty-four  hours.  Some 
of  the  British  troops  were  seen  to  embark,  and  pass 
down  towards  the  Castle  last  evening,  to  be  in  readiness, 
as  was  supposed,  in  conjunction  with  others  to  attack 
our  works  this  morning ;  but  a  most  violent  storm  came 
on  in  the  night,  and  still  continuing,  obliges  General 
Howe  to  abandon  his  enterprise,  and  thus  has  a  kind 
Providence  seen  fit  to  frustrate  a  design,  which  must 
have  been  attended  with  immense  slaughter  and  blood- 
shed. General  Howe  must  now  be  sensible  of  his 
exposed  situation,  and  be  convinced  of  the  immediate 
necessity  of  evacuating  the  town  of  Boston,  if  he  would 
prevent  the  sacrifice  of  his  fleet  and  army. 

1th. — There  are  strong  indications  in  Boston  that 
the  king's  troops  are  preparing  to  evacuate  the  town ; 
and  that  no  attempt  will  be  made  to  dispossess  our 
people  of  the  works,  which  we  have  constructed  on 
Dorchester  Heights. 

8th. — A  flag  of  truce  has  come  out  of  Boston  with  a 
message  from  the  selectmen,  acquainting  General 
Washington  that  General  Howe  has  come  to  the  de- 
termination to  evacuate  the  town,  and  that  he  would 
leave  it  standing,  provided  his  army  should  be  permit- 
ted to  retire  without  being  molested.  At  the  same 
11* 


126  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

time  intimating,  as  is  reported,  that  in  case  he  should 
be  attacked  by  our  army,  the  town  should  be  set  on 
fire  in  different  places,  in  order  to  secure  his  retreat. 

We  are  unacquainted  with  the  determination  of  his 
excellency  respecting  this  proposition;  but  it  is  well 
known  that  he  has  been  in  favour  of  making  an  attack 
on  the  town;  and  that  the  necessary  preparations 
were  made,  and  the  plan  arranged,  to  be  put  in  execu- 
tion, in  the  event  of  the  enemy's  meditated  attack  on 
our  works  at  Dorchester  Heights.  Four  thousand 
troops,  the  first  division  commanded  by  General  Sulli- 
van, the  second  by  General  Greene,  were  ordered  to 
be  in  readiness,  in  case  the  enemy  had  advanced  and 
been  defeated  on  the  heights  of  Dorchester ;  this  force, 
at  a  given  signal,  was  to  have  rushed  into  the  town 
and  taken  possession. 

It  is  credibly  reported  from  Boston,  that  on  the 
morning  when  the  British  officers  discovered  our  newly 
erected  works,  which,  on  account  of  a  fog,  loomed 
to  great  advantage,  and  appeared  larger  than  the  real- 
ity, General  Howe,  on  viewing  them,  was  heard  to  say 
in  astonishment,  "  I  know  not  what  I  shall  do ;  the 
rebels  have  done  more  in  one  night  than  my  whole 
army  would  have  done  in  weeks."  His  admiral  soon 
assured  him  that  if  the  rebels  were  permitted  to  hold 
possession,  he  should  not  be  able  to  keep  a  single 
ship  in  the  harbour  in  safety. 

Nothing  of  consequence  occurred  to  observation 
till  Sunday  morning,  March  17th,  when  at  an  early 
hour  it  was  perceived  that  the  royal  army  commenced 
their  embarkation  on  board  of  transports.  In  the 
course  of  the  forenoon  we  enjoyed  the  unspeakable 


EVACUATION    OF    BOSTON.  127 

satisfaction  of  beholding  their  whole  fleet  under  sail, 
wafting  from  our  shores  the  dreadful  scourge  of  war. 
It  was  in  the  power  of  the  provincials  by  a  cannonade 
to  have  annoyed  the  enemy's  shipping  and  transports, 
as  they  passed  Dorchester  Heights,  and  to  have  oc- 
casioned great  embarrassment  and  destruction  among 
them ;  but  no  orders  were  given  for  this  purpose,  and 
they  were  suffered  to  pass  unmolested.  By  this  event 
we  are  happily  relieved  of  a  force  consisting  of  seven 
thousand  five  hundred  and  seventy-five  regulars,  ex- 
clusive of  the  staff,  which,  with  the  marines  and 
sailors,  may  be  estimated  at  about  ten  thousand  in 
the  whole.  This  force  greatly  exceeds  the  five  regi- 
ments, with  which  General  Grant  vauntingly  boasted 
in  England  that  he  could  march  successfully  from  one 
end  of  the  American  continent  to  the  other.  A  con- 
siderable number  of  tories,  who  had  joined  the  royal 
standard,  took  passage  withvtheir  families  on  board 
of  the  transports  with  the  army,  and  bade  adieu  to 
their  native  country,  without  knowing  what  part  of 
the  world  is  to  be  their  destiny. 

Immediately  after  the  enemy  sailed  from  Boston 
harbour,  General  Washington  ordered  the  major  part 
of  his  army  to  march  to  New  York,  to  secure  that 
city  against  the  apprehended  invasion  of  General 
Howe.  It  was  not  till  Wednesday,  the  20th,  that 
our  troops  were  permitted  to  enter  the  town,  when 
our  regiment,  with  two  or  three  others,  were  ordered 
to  march  in  and  take  up  our  quarters,  which  were 
provided  for  us  in  comfortable  houses.  While  march- 
ing through  the  streets,  the  inhabitants  appeared  at 
their  doors  and  windows ;  though  they  manifested  a 


128  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

lively  joy  on  being  liberated  from  a  long  imprison- 
ment, they  were  not  altogether  free  from  a  melancholy 
gloom  which  ten  tedious  months'  siege  had  spread 
over  their  countenances.  The  streets  and  buildings 
present  a  scene  which  reflects  disgrace  on  their  late 
occupants,  exhibiting  a  deplorable  desolation  and 
wretchedness. 

Boston,  March  22d. — A  concourse  of  people  from 
the  country  are  crowding  into  town,  full  of  friendly 
solicitude;  and  it  is  truly  interesting  to  witness  the 
tender  interviews  and  fond  embraces  of  those  who 
have  been  long  separated,  under  circumstances  so 
peculiarly  distressing.  But  it  is  particularly  unfortu- 
nate on  this  occasion,  that  the  small-pox  is  lurking  in 
various  parts  of  the  town,  which  deters  many  from 
enjoying  an  interview  with  their  friends.  The  pa- 
rents and  sister  of  my  friend  Dr.  Townsend  have 
continued  in  town  during  the  siege ;  being  introduced 
.to  the  family  by  the  doctor,  I  received  a  kind  and 
polite  invitation  to  take  up  my  abode  with  them, 
where  I  am  enjoying  the  kindest  attentions  and 
civilities.  I  accompanied  several  gentlemen  to  view 
the  British  fortifications  on  Roxbury  Neck,  where  I 
observed  a  prodigious  number  of  little  military  en- 
gines, called  caltrops,  or  crow-feet,  scattered  over  the 
ground  in  the  vicinity  of  the  works,  to  impede  the 
march  of  our  troops  in  case  of  an  attack.  The 
implement  consists  of  an  iron  ball,  armed  with  four 
sharp  points  about  one  inch  in  length,  so  formed  that 
which  way  soever  it  may  fall,  one  point  lies  upwards 
to  pierce  the  feet  of  horses  or  men,  and  are  admirably 
well  calculated  to  obstruct  the  march  of  an  enemy. 


EVACUATION    OF    BOSTON.  129 

23d. — I  went  to  view  the  Old  South  Church,  a 
spacious  brick  building  near  the  centre  of  the  town. 
It  has  been  for  more  than  a  century  consecrated  to 
the  service  of  religion,  and  many  eminent  divines 
have  in  its  pulpit  laboured  in  teaching  the  ways  of 
righteousness  and  truth.  But  during  the  late  siege, 
the  inside  of  it  was  entirely  destroyed  by  the  British, 
and  the  sacred  building  occupied  as  a  riding-school 
by  Burgoyne's  regiment  of  dragoons.  The  pulpit 
and  pews  were  removed,  the  floor  covered  with  earth, 
and  used  for  the  purpose  of  training  and  exercising 
their  horses.  A  beautiful  pew,  ornamented  with 
carved  work  and  silk  furniture,  was  demolished ;  and 
by  order  of  an  officer,  the  carved  work,  it  is  said,  was 
used  as  a  fence  for  a  hog-sty.  The  North  Church,  a 
very  valuable  building,  was  entirely  demolished,  and 
consumed  for  fuel.  Thus  are  our  houses,  devoted  to 
religious  worship,  profaned  and  destroyed  by  the 
subjects  of  his  Royal  Majesty.  His  excellency  the 
commander-in-chief  has  been  received  by  the  inhabi- 
tants with  every  mark  of  respect,  and  gratitude,  and 
a  public  dinner  has  been  provided  for  him.  He  re- 
quested the  Rev.  Dr.  Eliot,  at  the  renewal  of  his 
customary  Thursday  lecture,  to  preach  a  thanks- 
giving sermon,  adapted  to  the  joyful  occasion.  Ac- 
cordingly, on  the  28th,  this  pious  divine  preached  an 
appropriate  discourse  from  Isaiah  xxxiii.  20,  in  pre- 
sence of  his  excellency  and  a  respectable  audience. 


BURNING  OF  FALMOUTH. 

ONGRESS  having  intimated 
to  General  Washington  that 
an  attack  upon  Boston  was 
much  desired,  a  council  of 
war  was  called  (October  18), 
but  unanimously  agreed  that 
it  was  not  expedient,  at  least 
for  the  present.  On  the  same 
day  Captain  Mowat  destroyed 
a  hundred  and  thirty-nine  houses,  and  two  hundred 
and  seventy- eight  stores  and  other  buildings,  the 
far  greatest  and  best  part  of  the  town  of  Falmouth, 
(now  Portland,  Maine),  in  the  northern  part  of 
Massachusetts.  The  inhabitants,  in  compliance  with 
a  resolve  of  the  provincial  congress  to  prevent  tories 
carrying  out  their  effects,  gave  some  violent  ob- 
struction to  the  loading  of  a  mast-ship,  which  drew 
upon  them  the  indignation  of  the  admiral. 


BURNING    OF    FALMOUTH.  133 

Captain  Mowat  was  despatched  in  the  Canceaux  of 
sixteen  guns,  with  an  armed  large  ship,  schooner  and 
sloop.  After  anchoring  toward  the  evening  of  the 
17th  within  gun-shot,  he  sent  a  letter  on  shore,  giv- 
ing them  two  hours  for  the  removal  of  their  families, 
as  he  had  orders  to  fire  the  town,  they  having  been 
guilty  of  the  most  unpardonable  rebellion.  A  com- 
mittee of  three  gentlemen  went  on  board,  to  learn  the 
particular  reasons  for  such  orders.  He  answered,  that 
his  orders  were  to  set  on  fire  all  the  seaports  between 
Boston  and  Halifax ;  but  agreed  to  spare  the  town  till 
nine  o'clock  the  next  morning,  would  they  consent  to 
send  him  oflf  eight  small  arms,  which  was  immediately 
done.  The  next  morning  the  committee  applied  afresh ; 
he  concluded  to  spare  the  town  till  he  could  hear  from 
the  admiral,  in  case  they  would  send  him  off  four  car- 
riage guns,  deliver  up  all  their  arms,  ammunition,  &c. 
and  four  gentlemen  of  the  town  as  hostages.  That 
not  being  complied  with,  about  half-past  nine  he  began 
to  fire  from  the  four  armed  vessels,  and  continued  it 
till  after  dark.  With  shells  and  carcasses,  and  about 
thirty  marines  whom  he  landed,  he  set  the  town  on 
fire  in  several  places.  About  a  hundred  of  the  worst 
houses  escaped  destruction,  but  suffered  damage. 
The  inhabitants  got  out  a  very  considerable  part  of 
their  furniture,  and  had  not  a  person  killed  or  wounded, 
though  the  vessels  fired  into  the  town  about  three 

o 

thousand  shot,  beside  bombs  and  carcasses. 

General  Lee  reprobates  their  cowardice,  in  admit- 
ting such  a  paltry  party  to  land  with  impunity,  and 
set  their  town  in  flames,  when  they  had  at  least  two 
hundred  fighting  men,  and  powder  enough  for  a  battle. 
12 


134 


REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 


In  the  private  letter  wherein  he  expressed  these  sen- 
timents, he  made  no  mention  of  the  sailors  being  re- 
pulsed with  the  loss  of  a  few  men ;  though  this  might 
happen  in  the  close  of  the  day,  and  give  occasion  for 
its  being  related  by  others.  The  burning  of  Falmouth 
spread  an  alarm  upon  the  sea-coast,  but  produced  no 
disposition  to  submit  to  the  power  and  mercy  of  the 
armed  British  agents.  The  people  in  common  chose 
rather  to  abandon  the  seaports  that  could  not  be 
defended,  than  quit  their  country's  cause ;  and  there- 
fore removed  back,  with  their  effects,  to  a  safe  distance. 


Arnold. 


ARNOLD'S  EXPEDITION  TO  .QUEBEC. 

lASHINGTON  having  obtained 
pleasing  accounts  from  Canada, 
being  assured  that  neither  Indians 
nor  Canadians  could  be  prevailed 

upon  to  act  against  the  Ameri" 

cans»  an(^  knowing  there  was  a 
design  of  penetrating  into  that 
province  by  Lake  Champlain,  concerted  the  plan  of 
detaching  a  body  of  troops  from  head-quarters, 
through  the  province  of  Maine,  across  the  coun- 
try to  Quebec.  He  communicated  the  same  to 
General  Schuyler,  who  approving  it,  all  things  were 
got  in  readiness.  The  corps  was  to  be  commanded 
by  Colonel  Arnold,  aided  by  Colonels  Christopher 


136  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR. 

Green  and  Roger  Enos,  and  Majors  Meigs  and 
Bigelow,  and  was  to  consist  of  ten  companies  of  mus- 
ketmen  and  three  companies  of  riflemen,  amounting 
to  eleven  hundred. 

In  the  evening  of  September  13th,  1775,  the  de- 
tachment marched  from  Cambridge  for  Newburyport, 
where,  six  days  after,  they  embarked  on  board  ten 
transports  bound  to  Kennebec,  fifty  leagues  distant. 
They  entered  the  mouth  of  the  Kennebec  in  the  morn- 
ing, and,  favoured  with  the  wind  and  tide,  proceeded 
up  to  Gardner's  town.  It  was  only  fourteen  days 
from  first  giving  orders  for  building  two  hundred 
batteaux,  for  collecting  provisions,  and  for  draughting 
the  eleven  hundred  men,  to  their  reaching  this  place. — 
Such  was  the  despatch ! 

On  the  22d  of  September  the  troops  embarked  on 
board  the  batteaux,  and  proceeded  to  Fort  Western 
on  the  east  side  of  the  river.  From  thence,  Captain 
Morgan,  with  three  companies  of  riflemen,  was  sent 
forward  by  water,  with  orders  to  get  on  to  the  great 
carrying-place  in  the  most  expeditious  manner,  and  to 
clear  the  road,  while  the  other  divisions  came  up.  The 
second  division  embarked  the  next  day,  and  the  third 
the  day  after.  As  they  advanced  up  the  river  the 
stream  grew  very  rapid,  and  the  bottom  and  shores  were 
rocky.  (Sept.  29.)  By  eleven  in  the  morning,  Major 
Meigs,  with  the  third  division,  arrived  at  Fort  Halifax, 
standing  on  a  point  of  land  between  the  rivers  Kenne- 
bec and  Sebasticook.  In  their  progress  up  the  river, 
ey  met  with  two  carrying-places,  over  which  they 
were  obliged  to  carry  their  batteaux,  baggage,  and 
every  other  article,  till  they  came  again  to  a  part  of 


EXPEDITION   TO    QUEBEC.  137 

the  river  which  was  navigable,  and  no  longer  obstruct- 
ed by  water-falls,  rapids,  rocks  or  other  incumbrances, 
as  was  that  which  they  avoided.  (October  3.)  They 
got  to  Norridgewock,  where  the  major's  curiosity  was 
entertained  by  the  sight  of  a  child  fourteen  months  old, 
the  first  white  one  born  in  the  place.  After  crossing 
over  more  carrying-places,  he  and  his  men  encamped 
at  the  great  carrying-place,  (October  10,)  which  was 
twelve  miles  and  a  half  across,  including  three  ponds 
that  they  were  obliged  to  pass.  These  ponds  had 
plenty  of  trout.  Two  days  after  Colonel  Enos  arrived 
at  the  same  place  with  the  fourth  division  of  the  army, 
consisting  of  three  companies  of  musket-men.  Colonel 
Arnold  meeting  with  an  Indian,  wrote  to  General 
Schuyler,  and  enclosed  his  letter  to  a  friend  in  Quebec. 
Though  he  had  no  knowledge  of  the  Indian,  he  ven- 
turously intrusted  the  packet  with  him,  to  be  carried 
and  delivered  according  to  order.  This  strange  con- 
fidence might  have  ruined  his  expedition,  beside 
involving  his  friend  in  great  trouble.  (October  15.) 
The  provision  was  so  reduced,  that  the  men  were  put 
to  allowance,  three-quarters  of  a  pound  of  pork  and 
three-quarters  of  a  pound  of  flour  a  day  for  each. 
The  next  day  they  reached  Dead  river. 

Colonel  Enos  having  got  up  with  his  division  in 
about  three  days,  was  ordered  to  send  back  the  sick, 
and  those  that  could  not  be  furnished  with  provision ; 
but,  contrary  to  Colonel  Arnold's  expectation,  re- 
turned to  Cambridge  with  his  whole  division  a  few 
days  after.  Major  Meigs  received  orders  to  push  on 
with  his  division  (October  19)  for  Chaudiere  Head, 
with  the  greatest  expedition.  But  they  proceeded 
12* 


138  REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 

very  slowly,  by  reason  of  falls,  carrying-places,  and 
bad  weather.  Their  course  was  only  three  miles. 
(October  22.)  The  rains  made  the  river  rise  the 
preceding  night  in  some  parts  eight  feet  perpen- 
dicular ;  and  in  many  places  it  overflowed  its  banks, 
and  rendered  it  very  difficult  for  the  men  on  shore  to 
march.  The  next  day  the  stream  was  so  rapid,  that, 
in  passing  it,  five  or  six  batteaux  filled  and  overset, 
by  which  they  lost  several  barrels  of  provisions,  a 
number  of  guns,  clothes,  and  other  articles.  Such 
was  the  rapidity  of  the  stream,  and  interruptions  by 
carrying-places,  that  it  was  with  much  fatigue  they  got 
on  twenty-one  miles  within  the  three  following  days. 
To  their  great  satisfaction  they  reached  the  carrying- 
place,  (October  27,)  which  lies  across  the  height  of 
land  that  runs  through  the  colonies  to  Georgia,  and 
on  the  further  side  of  which  the  streams  run  the 
reverse  of  the  river  they  had  ascended.  They 
crossed  the  heights  to  Chaudiere  river,  and  continued 
their  march  by  land  to  Quebec.  (November  1.)  The 
marching  through  the  woods  was  extremely  bad. 
Major  Meigs  passed  a  number  of  soldiers  who  had 
no  provisions,  and  some  of  whom  were  sick.  It  was 
not  in  his  power  to  help  or  relieve  them.  But  one  or 
two  dogs  were  killed,  which  the  distressed  soldiers 
ate  with  a  relishing  appetite,  without  sparing  either 
feet  or  skin.  A  few  ate  their  cartouch-boxes, 
breeches,  and  shoes,  being  several  days  without  pro- 
vision. The  major  and  his  men  marched  on  upon 
the  banks  of  the  Chaudiere,  (November  3,)  and  at 
twelve  o'clock  met  with  supplies,  to  the  inexpressible 
joy  of  the  soldiers,  who  were  near  starving. 


EXPEDITION    TO    QUEBEC.  139 

Colonel  Arnold,  with  a  small  party,  made  a  forced 
march,  and  returned  with  provisions  purchased  of  the 
inhabitants,  on  which  the  hunger-bitten  adventurers 
made  a  voracious  meal.  (November  4.)  The  next 
day  at  eleven,  Major  Meigs  and  his  men  arrived  at  a 
French  house,  and  were  hospitably  treated.  It  was 
the  first  house  he  had  seen  for  thirty-one  days,  having 
been  all  that  time  in  a  rough,  barren,  and  uninhabited 
wilderness,  where  he  never  saw  a  human  being  except 
those  belonging  to  the  detachment.  He  and  his 
party  were  immediately  supplied  with  fresh  beef, 
fowls,  butter,  pheasants,  and  vegetables,  at  this  set- 
tlement, called  Sertigan,  twenty-five  leagues  from 
Quebec.  They  were  kindly  entertained  while  march- 
ing down  the  country. 

When  Colonel  Arnold  got  within  two  leagues  and 
a  half  of  Point  Levi,  (November  8,)  he  wrote  to 
General  Montgomery,  that  as  he  had  received  no 
answer  either  from  General  Schuyler  or  his  friend,  he 
made  no  doubt  but  that  the  Indian  had  betrayed  his 
trust, — and  that  he  was  confirmed  in  it,  upon  finding 
that  the  inhabitants  of  Quebec  had  been  some  time 
apprised  of  his  coming,  and  had  destroyed  all  the 
canoes  at  Point  Levi,  to  prevent  the  detachments 
from  passing  over.  The  fact  was,  the  Indian,  instead 
of  delivering  the  packet  as  directed,  carried  it  to  the 
lieutenant-governor,  who,  on  reading  the  letters,  se- 
cured Mr.  Mercier,  the  merchant,  and  began  imme- 
diately to  put  the  city  in  the  best  state  of  defence  he 
could ;  whereas  before  it  was  wholly  defenceless,  and 
might  easily  have  been  carried  by  surprise. 

On  the  9th  of  November  Colonel  Arnold  arrived 


140  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR. 

at  Point  Levi,  where  we  leave  him  to  remove,  if 
possible,  the  embarrassments  into  which  his  own  im- 
prudence has  brought  him,  by  needlessly  trusting  an 
unknown  Indian  with  despatches  of  the  utmost  con- 
sequence. The  detachment  suffered  hardships  beyond 
what  can  well  be  conceived  of,  in  the  course  of  the 
expedition.  The  men  had  to  haul  their  batteaux  up 
over  falls,  up  rapid  streams,  over  carrying-places,  and 
to  march  through  morasses,  thick  woods,  and  over 
mountains,  for  about  three  hundred  and  twenty  miles. 
In  many  places  they  had  to  pass  over  the  ground  and 
the  mountains  several  times,  as  without  it  they  must 
have  left  much  of  their  baggage  behind,  and  have 
failed  in  the  enterprise.  They  lost  all  their  powder, 
except  what  was  in  cartridges  and  horns,  while  pene- 
trating through  the  woods.  But  what  proved  the 
greatest  trial  to  them,  was  the  starving  condition  to 
which  they  were  reduced  when  approaching  the  end 
of  their  tedious  and  distressing  march.  The  pork 
being  gone,  they  had  for  four  days  only  half-a-pound 
of  flour  a  day  for  each  man.  Their  whole  store  was 
then  divided,  which  yielded  about  four  pints  of  flour 
per  man — a  small  allowance  for  men  near  a  hundred 
miles  from  any  habitation  or  prospect  of  supply.  It 
was  used  sparingly;  but  several,  when  they  had 
baked  and  eaten  their  last  morsel,  discovered,  to  their 
great  confusion,  that  they  had  thirty  miles  to  travel 
before  they  could  expect  the  least  mouthful  more. 
But  their  dread  of  consequences  was  soon  removed, 
by  the  unexpected  return  of  Colonel  Arnold,  with 
cattle.  The  soldiers  exercised  the  greatest  fortitude 
and  patience  under  the  difficulties  and  sufferings  that 


EXPEDITION    AGAINST    QUEBEC.  141 

occurred ;  and  when  again  in  the  midst  of  plenty,  and 
an  easy  situation,  soon  lost  all  painful  remembrance 
of  what  had  happened,  and  gloried  in  having  accom- 
plished, by  their  indefatigable  zeal  and  industry,  an 
undertaking  above  the  common  race  of  men  in  this 
debauched  age. 

Let  us  attend  to  Colonel  Enos.  His  return  to 
camp  excited  both  astonishment  and  indignation. 
(December  1.)  A  court  martial  was  ordered  to  sit 
upon  him ;  when  it  appeared  that  he  had  but  three 
days'  provision,  and  was  about  one  hundred  miles  from 
the  English  settlements ;  that  a  council  of  war  was 
called,  which  agreed  upon  the  return  of  the  colonel's 
whole  division ;  and  that  he  was  for  going  on  without, 
but  that  it  was  opposed.  It  was  the  unanimous 
opinion  of  the  court  that  Colonel  Enos  was  under  a 
necessity  of  returning,  and  he  was  acquitted  with 
honour.  A  number  of  officers,  of  the  best  character, 
were  fully  satisfied  and  persuaded  that  his  conduct 
deserved  applause  rather  than  censure.  Had  he  not 
returned,  his  whole  division  must  have  been  starved 


SIEGE  OF  QUEBEC  AND  DEATH  OF  GENERAL 
MONTGOMERY, 

HE  Americans,  finding  all  their 
proposals  of  alliance  rejected, 
determined  to  view  Canada  as 
a  hostile  country.  They  ob- 
served that  the  British,  almost 
entirely  occupied  in  the  attempt 
to  put  down  the  insurrection, 
had  left  this  country  very  slightly 
defended.  In  September,  1775,  two  expeditions  were 
fitted  out,  which  were  distinguished  by  tragical  events, 
as  well  as  by  the  brilliant  and  romantic  valour  of 
their  chiefs.  While  the  main  body,  under  Mont- 
gomery, marched  by  Lake  Champlain  upon  Montreal, 
Arnold,  with  eleven  hundred  men,  sailed  up  the  Ken- 
nebec,  and  proceeded  through  the  vast  forest  that 
stretches  between  it  and  the  St.  Lawrence,  hoping  to 


General   Montgomery. 


SIEGE    OF    QUEBEC.  145 

surprise  Quebec.  His  marcn  through  the  wilderness 
we  have  already  described.  The  sufferings  of  the 
party  were  extreme,  being  obliged  to  eat  dog's  flesh 
and  the  leather  of  their  cartouch-boxes.  Yet  they 
arrived,  on  the  9th  of  November,  at  Point  Levi,  with- 
out any  alarm  having  reached  the  capital;  but  all 
the  shipping  had  unfortunately  been  removed  from 
that  side.  Arnold  was  thus  unable  to  cross,  and  in 
twenty-four  hours  the  inhabitants  were  apprised  of 
the  danger.  On  the  14th  that  active  officer  contrived 
to  pass  the  river  and  occupy  the  heights  of  Abraham, 
though  his  force  was  too  small  for  active  movements, 
till  joined  by  Montgomery.  This  commander  sent 
forward  a  reconnoitring  party  under  Colonel  Ethan 
Allen,  who  made  a  brave  but  rash  attempt  on 
Montreal,  in  which  he  was  taken,  with  his  party,  and 
afterwards  sent  in  irons  to  England. 

Montgomery,  however,  having  reduced  the  posts 
of  St.  John  and  Chambly,  and  made  prisoners  of  their 
garrisons,  which  included  a  large  proportion  of  the 
regular  force  in  Canada,  that  city  was  quite  unable  to 
resist;  and  General  Carleton,  the  governor,  with 
difficulty  escaped  in  a  boat  with  muffled  paddles. 
The  American  leader  then  advanced  upon  Quebec, 
and  took  the  command  of  the  united  force.  Carleton 
had  under  arms  only  eighteen  hundred  men,  of  whom 
not  more  than  seventy  were  regulars ;  two  hundred 
and  thirty  of  Eraser's  Highlanders,  who  had  settled 
in  the  country,  were  re-embodied  under  Colonel 
M'Lean ;  the  rest  were  British  and  Canadian  militia, 
seamen,  and  others.  The  summons  to  surrender,  how- 
ever, was  at  once  rejected;  and  Montgomery,  after 
13  K 


146  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

pushing  the  siege  during  the  month  of  December 
without  any  prospect  of  success,  determined  to  carry 
the  place  by  a  night-assault.  On  the  31st,  two  storm- 
ing parties  were  formed, — one  under  himself  and  the 
other  under  Arnold.  They  were  to  advance  from  op- 
posite sides,  and  meet  at  the  foot  of  Mountain  Street, 
then  force  Prescott  Gate,  and  reach  the  Upper  Town. 
The  first  battery  encountered  by  Montgomery  was  de- 
fended chiefly  by  a  party  of  Canadian  militia,  with 
nine  British  seamen  to  work  the  guns.  Having  re- 
ceived some  previous  notice,  they  were  on  the  watch ; 
and,  about  daybreak,  saw  amid  the  snow  a  body  of 
troops  in  full  march  from  Wolfe's  Cove.  Orders  were 
given  by  the  British  commander  to  make  no  move- 
ment ;  and  the  Americans  having  halted  at  the  distance 
of  fifty  yards,  sent  forward  an  officer  to  reconnoitre, 
who  found  everything  perfectly  still.  On  his  return  the 
assailants  rushed  forward  in  double  quick  time  to  the 
attack.  When  they  were  close  to  the  spot,  Captain 
Barnsfare,  at  the  critical  moment,  gave  the  signal  for  a 
general  discharge  of  guns  and  musketry.  It  told  with 
unexpected  and  fatal  effect ;  for,  among  many  others, 
Montgomery  himself,  the  gallant  chief,  fell  to  rise  no 
more.  The  troops,  on  witnessing  this  disaster,  made 
a  precipitate  retreat. 

Meantime  Arnold,  from  the  opposite  side,  pushed 
on  his  attack  with  desperate  resolution.  In  assaulting 
the  first  barrier,  he  received  a  severe  wound  in  the  leg, 
which  obliged  him  to  quit  the  field.  But  his  party,  led 
on  by  Captain  Morgan,  carried  the  post,  and  pushed 
on  to  a  second.  Here,  however,  their  efforts  were  vain ; 
and  General  Carleton  having  sent  a  detachment  upon 


SIEGE  OF    QUEBEC.    .  147 

their  rear,  they  were  surrounded,  and  finally,  to  the 
number  of  four  hundred  and  twenty-six,  obliged  to 
surrender.  Neither  of  the  parties  thus  reached  the 
main  point  of  attack  at  Prescott  Gate,  where  the  gov- 
ernor was  stationed,  with  the  determination  to  main- 
tain it  to  the  last  extremity. 

The  British  were  not  yet  aware  of  all  the  results  of 
the  contest.  As  soon  as  the  retreat  of  the  first  party 
was  ascertained,  they  went  out  and  collected,  from 
under  the  snow  which  had  already  covered  them, 
thirteen  bodies.  The  surmise  soon  arose  that  one  of 
them  was  that  of  the  commander ;  yet  some  hours 
elapsed  before  an  officer  of  Arnold's  division  identified 
him,  with  the  deepest  expressions  of  admiration  and 
regret.  Montgomery,  a  gentleman  of  good  family  in 
the  north  of  Ireland,  had  served  under  Wolfe,  but 
having  afterwards  formed  a  matrimonial  connexion  in 
America,  he  had  adopted  with  enthusiasm  the  cause 
of  the  United  States  as  that  of  liberty.  His  military 
character,  joined  to  his  private  virtues,  inspired 
general  esteem,  and  has  secured  to  him  a  place  on 
the  roll  of  noble  and  gallant  chiefs  who  fell  beneath 
the  walls  of  Quebec. 

Arnold  succeeded  to  the  command,  and  attempted 
still  to  maintain  his  ground ;  but  the  dispirited  state 
of  his  men,  still  more  than  his  actual  loss,  rendered 
him  unable  to  keep  up  more  than  an  imperfect 
blockade,  at  the  distance  of  three  miles.  In  April, 
1776,  his  place  was  taken  by  General  Wooster,  who 
brought  a  reinforcement,  and  made  some  fresh  at- 
tempts, but  without  success.  Early  in  May,  several 
vessels  arrived  from  England  with  troops  and  supplies, 


148 


REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 


on  which  the  Americans  raised  the  siege,  and  fell  back 
upon  Montreal.  Thence  they  retired  from  post  to 
post,  till,  on  the  18th  of  June,  they  finally  evacuated 
the  province,  on  which  they  never  made  any  further 
attempt. 


Sir   Gay    Carleton. 


SCENES  AT  QUEBEC  DURING  THE  SIEGE. 

UDGE  HENRY,  who  was  one 

of  the  prisoners  taken  by  the 
British  at  Quebec,  and  whose 
opportunities  of  information  ap- 
pear to  have  been  excellent, 
gives  in  his  narrative  of  the  cam- 

O 

paign  an  account  of  the  death  of 
Montgomery,  different  from  that  which  is  given  above 
on  the  authority  of  Murray,  a  British  writer.  Judge 
Henry's  account  is  addressed  to  his  children,  and  the 
extract  given  below  commences  after  his  account  of 


152  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

his  own  capture,  which  happened   on  the  31st  of 
December,  1775,  when  Montgomery  fell. 

General  Montgomery  had  marched  at  the  precise 
time  stipulated,  and  had  arrived  at  his  destined  place 
of  attack,  nearly  about  the  time  we  attacked  the  first 
barrier.  He  was  not  one  that  would  loiter.  Colonel 
Campbell,  of  the  New  York  troops,  a  large,  good- 
looking  man,  who  was  second  in  command  of  that 
party,  and  was  deemed  a  veteran,  accompanied  the 
army  to  the  assault ;  his  station  was  rearward,  General 
Montgomery,  with  his  aids,  were  at  the  point  of  the 
column. 

It  is  impossible  to  give  you  a  fair  and  complete  idea 
of  the  nature  and  situation  of  the  place  solely  with 
the  pen — the  pencil  is  required.  As  by  the  special 
permission  of  government,  obtained  by  the  good  offices 
of  Captain  Prentis,  in  the  summer  following,  Boyd,  a 
few  others  and  myself,  reviewed  the  causes  of  our  dis- 
aster ;  it  is  therefore  in  my  power,  so  far  as  my  abilities 
will  permit,  to  give  you  a  tolerable  notion  of  the  spot. 
Cape  Diamond  nearly  resembles  the  great  jutting  rock 
which  is  in  the  narrows  at  Hunter's  Falls,  on  the  Sus- 
quehanna.  The  rock,  at  the  latter  place,  shoots  out 
as  steeply  as  that  at  Quebec,  but  by  no  means  forms 
so  great  an  angle,  on  the  margin  of  the  river ;  but  is 
more  craggy.  There  is  a  stronger  and  more  obvious 
difference  in  the  comparison.  When  you  surmount 
the  hill  at  St.  Charles,  or  the  St.  Lawrence  side,  which 
to  the  eye  are  equally  high  and  steep,  you  are  on 
Abraham's  Plains,  and  see  an  extensive  champaign 
country.  The  bird's-eye  view  around  Quebec  bears 


FORTIFICATIONS   OF    QUEBEC.  153 

a  striking  conformity  to  the  sites  of  Northumberland 
and  Pittsburg,  in  Pennsylvania ;  but  the  former  is  on  a 
more  gigantic  scale,  and  each  of  the  latter  wants  the 
steepness  and  cragginess  of  the  back  ground,  and 
depth  of  river.  This  detail  is  to  instruct  you  in  the 
geographical  situation  of  Quebec,  and  for  the  sole 
purpose  of  explaining  the  manner  of  General  Mont- 
gomery's death,  and  the  reasons  of  our  failure.  From 
Wolfs  Cove,  there  is  a  good  beach  down  to  and  around 
"  Cape  Diamond."  The  bulwarks  of  the  city  came  to 
the  edge  of  the  hill,  above  that  place.  Thence  down 
the  side  of  the  precipice,  slantingly  to  the  brink  of  the 
river,  there  was  a  stockade  of  strong  posts,  fifteen  or 
twenty  feet  high,  knit  together  by  a  stout  railing,  at 
bottom  and  top  with  pins.  This  was  no  mean  defence, 
and  was  at  the  distance  of  one  hundred  yards  from 
the  point  of  the  rock.  Within  this  palisade,  and  at  a 
few  yards  from  the  very  point  itself,  there  was  a  like 
palisade,  though  it  did  not  run  so  high  up  the  hill. 

Again,  within  Cape  Diamond,  and  probably  at  a 
distance  of  fifty  yards,  there  stood  a  block-house, 
which  seemed  to  take  up  the  space  between  the  foot 
of  the  hill  and  the  precipitous  bank  of  the  river, 
leaving  a  cartway  or  passage  on  each  side  of  it. 
When  heights  and  distances  are  spoken  of,  you 
must  recollect  that  the  description  of  Cape  Diamond 
and  its  vicinity  is  merely  that  of  the  eye,  made  as  it 
were  running,  under  the  inspection  of  an  officer. 
The  review  of  the  ground  our  army  had  acted  upon, 
was  accorded  us  as  a  particular  favour.  Even  to 
have  stepped  the  spaces  in  a  formal  manner  would 
have  been  dishonourable,  if  not  a  species  of  treason. 


154  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

A  block-house,  if  well  constructed,  is  an  admirable 
method  of  defence,  which  in  the  process  of  the  war, 
to  our  cost,  was  fully  experienced.  In  the  instance 
now  before  us  (though  the  house  was  not  built  upon 
the  most  approved  principles),  it  was  a  formidabb 
object.  It  was  a  square  of  perhaps  forty  or  fifty  feet. 
The  large  logs,  neatly  squared,  were  tightly  bound 
together  by  dove-tail  work.  If  not  much  mistaken, 
the  lower  story  contained  loop-holes  for  musketry,  so 
narrow  that  those  within  could  not  be  harmed  from 
without.  The  upper  story  had  four  or  more  port- 
holes, for  cannon  of  a  large  calibre.  These  guns 
were  charged  with  grape  or  canister-shot,  and  were 
pointed  with  exactness  towards  the  avenue  at  Cape 
Diamond.  The  hero  Montgomery  came.  The  drowsy 
or  drunken  guard  did  not  hear  the  sawing  of  the 
posts  of  the  first  palisade.  Here,  if  not  very  erro- 
neous, four  posts  were  sawed  and  thrown  aside,  so  as 
to  admit  four  men  abreast.  The  column  entered  with 
a  manly  fortitude.  Montgomery,  accompanied  by 
his  aids,  M'Pherson  and  Cheeseman,  advanced  in 
front.  Arriving  at  the  second  palisade,  the  general, 
with  his  own  hands,  sawed  down  two  of  the  pickets, 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  admit  two  men  abreast. 
These  sawed  pickets  were  close  under  the  hill,  and 
but  a  few  yards  from  the  very  point  of  the  rock,  out 
of  the  view  and  fire  of  the  enemy  from  the  block- 
house. Until  our  troops  advanced  to  the  point,  no 
harm  could  ensue  but  by  stones  thrown  from  above. 
Even  now  there  had  been  but  an  imperfect  discovery 
of  the  advancing  of  an  enemy,  and  that  only  by  the 
intoxicated  guard.  The  guard  fled;  the  general 


SCENES    AT    QUEBEC.  155 

advanced  a  few  paces.  A  drunken  sailor  returned  to 
his  gun,  swearing  he  would  not  forsake  it  while  un- 
discharged. This  fact  is  related  from  the  testimony 
of  the  guard  on  the  morning  of  our  capture,  some  of 
those  sailors  being  our  guard.  Applying  the  match, 
this  single  discharge  deprived  us  of  our  excellent 
commander. 

Examining  the  spot,  the  officer  who  escorted  us, 
professing  to  be  one  of  those  who  first  came  to  the 
place  after  the  death  of  Montgomery,  showed  the 
position  in  which  the  general's  body  was  found.  It 
lay  two  paces  from  the  brink  of  the  river,  on  the 
back,  the  arms  extended — Cheeseman  lay  on  the  left, 
and  M'Pherson  on  the  right,  in  a  triangular  position. 
Two  other  brave  men  lay  near  them.  The  ground 
above  described  was  visited  by  an  inquisitive  eye,  so 
that  you  may  rely  with  some  implicitness  on  the  truth 
of  the  picture.  As  all  danger  from  without  had 
vanished,  the  government  had  not  only  permitted  the 
mutilated  palisades  to  remain,  without  renewing  the 
enclosure,  but  the  very  sticks,  sawed  by  the  hand  of 
our  commander,  still  lay  strewed  about  the  spot. 

Colonel  Campbell,  appalled  by  the  death  of  the 
general,  retreated  a  little  way  from  Cape  Diamond, 
out  of  the  reach  of  the  cannon  of  the  block-house, 
and  called  a  council  of  officers,  who,  it  was  said, 
justified  his  receding  from  the  attack.  By  rushing 
on,  as  military  duty  required,  and  a  brave  man  would 
have  done,  the  block-house  might  have  been  occupied 
by  a  small  number,  and  was  unassailable  from  with- 
out, but  by  cannon.  From  the  block-house  to  the 
centre  of  the  Lower  Town,  where  we  were,  there  was 


156  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

no  obstacle  to  impede  a  force  so  powerful  as  that 
under  Colonel  Campbell. 

Cowardice,  or  a  want  of  good-will  towards  our 
cause,  left  us  to  our  miserable  fate.  A  junction,  though 
we  might  not  conquer  the  fortress,  would  enable  us  to 
make  an  honourable  retreat,  though  with  the  loss  of 
many  valuable  lives.  Campbell,  who  was  ever  after 
considered  as  a  poltroon  in  grain,  retreated,  leaving 
the  bodies  of  the  general,  M'Pherson  and  Cheeseman, 
to  be  devoured  by  the  dogs. 

The  disgust  caused  among  us,  as  to  Campbell,  was 
so  great  as  to  create  the  unchristian  wish,  that  he  might 
be  hanged.  In  that  desultory  period,  though  he  was 
tried,  he  was  acquitted;  that  was  also  the  case  of 
Colonel  Enos,  who  deserted  us  on  the  Kennebec. 
There  never  were  two  men  more  worthy  of  punish- 
ment of  the  most  exemplary  kind. 

On  the  3d  or  4th  of  January,  being  as  it  were 
domesticated  in  the  sergeant's  mess  in  the  reguliers, 
a  file  of  men,  headed  by  an  officer,  called  to  conduct 
me  to  the  seminary.  Adhering  to  the  advice  of 
Colonel  M'Dougal,  the  invitation  was  declined,  though 
the  hero  Morgan  had  solicited  this  grace  from 
Governor  Carleton,  and  had  sent  me  a  kind  and 
pressing  message.  My  reasons,  which  were  explained 
to  Morgan,  in  addition  to  the  one  already  given, 
operated  forcibly  on  my  mind.  Having  lost  all  my 
clothes  in  the  wilderness,  except  those  on  my  back ; 
and  those  acquired  by  the  provident  and  gratuitous 
spirit  of  General  Montgomery  having  remained  at 
our  quarters,  and  become  a  prey  to  the  women  and 
invalids  of  the  army;  nothing  remained  fitting  me  to 


SCENES   AT    QUEBEC.  157 

appear  in  company  anywhere.  Additionally,  it  had 
become  a  resolution,  when  leaving  Lancaster,  as  my 
absence  would  go  near  to  break  the  hearts  of  my 
parents,  never  to  break  upon  my  worthy  father's 
purse.  Dire  necessity  compelled  me  to  rescind  this 
resolution  in  part,  in  the  wilderness,  but  that  circum- 
stance made  me  the  more  determined  to  adhere  to 
the  resolve  afterwards.  Again,  my  intimate  friends 
were  not  in  the  seminary.  Steele  was  in  the  hospital, 
and  Simpson,  by  previous  command,  on  the  charming 
Isle  of  Orleans,  which,  from  its  fruitfulness,  had  be- 
come as  it  were  our  store-house.  Add  to  all  these 
reasons,  it  could  not  be  said  of  the  gentlemen  in  the 
seminary,  "they  are  my  intimates,"  except  as  to 
Captain  Morgan,  and  Lieutenant  F.  Nichols  of  Hen- 
drick's.  Besides,  my  leather  small-clothes,  all  in 
fritters,  had  been  cast  away,  and  a  savage  covering 
adopted  until  more  auspicious  times  came.  But  even 
now,  an  idea  of  escape  and  vengeance  inflamed  the 
breasts  of  many,  and  we  were  here  in  a  much 
superior  situation  for  such  a  purpose  than  that  of 
the  seminary.  All  these  facts  and  circumstances, 
induced  me  to  decline  the  friendly  solicitation  of  the 
kind-hearted  Morgan. 

On  the  third  day  after  our  capture,  the  generous 
Carleton  despatched  a  flag  to  Arnold,  to  obtain  what 
trifling  baggage  we  had  left  at  our  quarters.  Mine 
was  either  forgotten,  or,  miserable  as  it  was,  had 
been  plundered ;  but  as  good  luck  would  have  it,  the 
knapsack  of  one  Alexander  Nelson,  of  our  company, 
who  was  killed  when  running  to  the  first  barrier,  was 
disclaimed  by  all  of  our  men.  I,  in  consequence,  laid 
14 


158  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR. 

violent  hands  upon  the  spoil.  It  furnished  my  com- 
panion and  myself  with  a  large  but  coarse  blue 
blanket,  called  a  "stroud,"  and  a  drummer's  regi- 
mental coat.  The  blanket  became  a  real  comfort, 
the  coat  an  article  of  barter. 

It  was  on  this  day  that  my  heart  was  ready  to 
burst  with  grief  at  viewing  the  funeral  of  our  beloved 
general.  Carleton  had,  in  our  former  wars  with  the 
French,  been  the  friend  and  fellow-soldier  of  Mont- 
gomery. Though  political  opinion,  perhaps  ambition 
or  interest,  had  thrown  these  worthies  on  different 
sides  of  the  great  question,  yet  the  former  could  not 
but  honour  the  remains  of  his  quondam  friend.  About 
noon  the  procession  passed  our  quarters.  It  was 
most  solemn.  The  coffin,  covered  with  a  pall, 
surmounted  by  transverse  swords,  was  borne  by  men. 
The  regular  troops,  particularly  that  fine  body  of  men, 
the  seventh  regiment,  with  reversed  arms,  and  scarfs 
on  the  left  elbow,  accompanied  the  corpse  to  the 
grave.  The  funerals  of  the  other  officers,  both 
friends  and  enemies,  were  performed  this  day.  From 
many  of  us  it  drew  tears  of  affection  for  the  de- 
ceased,— and  speaking  for  myself,  tears  of  greeting 
and  thankfulness  towards  General  Carleton.  The 
soldiery  and  inhabitants  appeared  affected  by  the  loss 
of  this  invaluable  man,  though  he  was  their  enemy. 
If  such  men  as  Washington,  Carleton,  and  Mont- 
gomery, had  had  the  entire  direction  of  the  adverse 
war,  the  contention,  in  the  event,  might  have  happily 
terminated  to  the  advantage  of  both  sections  of  the 
nation.  M'Pherson,  Cheeseman,  Hendricks,  and  Hum- 
phreys, were  all  dignified  by  the  manner  of  burial. 


SCENES   AT    QUEBEC. 

On  the  same  or  the  following  day,  we  were  com- 
pelled (if  we  would  look)  to  a  more  disgusting  and 
torturing  sight.  Many  carioles,  repeatedly  one  after 
the  other,  passed  our  dwelling  loaded  with  the  dead, 
whether  of  the  assailants  or  of  the  garrison,  to  a 
place  emphatically  called  the  "dead-house."  Here 
the  bodies  were  heaped  in  monstrous  piles.  The 
horror  of  the  sight,  to  us  southern  men,  principally 
consisted  in  seeing  our  companions  borne  to  in- 
terment, uncoffined,  and  in  the  very  clothes  they  had 
worn  in  battle, — their  limbs  distorted  in  various  di- 
rections, such  as  would  ensue  in  the  moment  of  death. 
Many  of  our  friends  and  acquaintances  were  apparent. 
Poor  Nelson  lay  on  the  top  of  half-a-dozen  other 
bodies,  his  arms  extended  beyond  his  head,  as  if  in 
the  act  of  prayer,  and  one  knee  crooked  and  raised, 
seemingly,  when  he  last  gasped  in  the  agonies  of 
death.  A  flood  of  tears  was  consequent.  Though 
Montgomery  was  beloved,  because  of  his  manliness 
of  soul,  heroic  bravery,  and  suavity  of  manners — 
Hendricks  and  Humphreys,  for  the  same  admirable 
qualities,  and  especially  for  the  endurances  we  under- 
went in  conjunction,  which  caused  many  a  tear — still 
my  unhappy  and  lost  brethren,  though  in  humble 
station,  with  whom  that  dreadful  wild  was  penetrated, 
and  from  whom  came  many  attentions  towards  me, 
forced  melancholy  sensations. 

From  what  is  said  relative  to  the  "  dead-house," 
you  might  conclude  that  General  Carleton  was  in- 
humane or  hard-hearted.  No  such  thing.  In  this 
northern  latitude,  at  this  season  of  the  year,  ac- 
cording to  my  feelings  (we  had  no  thermometer),  the 

14*  1 


162 


REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 


weather  was  so  cold  as  usually  to  be  many  degrees 
below  zero.  A  wound,  if  mortal,  or  even  otherwise, 
casts  the  party  wounded  into  the  snow;  if  death 
should  follow,  it  throws  the  sufferer  into  various 
attitudes,  which  are  assumed  in  the  extreme  pain 
accompanying  death.  The  moment  death  takes 
place,  the  frost  fixes  the  limbs  in  whatever  situation 
they  may  then  happen  to  be,  and  which  cannot  be 
reduced  to  decent  order  until  they  are  thawed.  In 
this  state  the  bodies  of  the  slain  are  deposited  in  the 
"dead-house,"  hard  as  ice.  At  this  season  of  the 
year  the  earth  is  frozen  from  two  to  five  feet  deep, 
impenetrable  to  the  best  pickaxe,  in  the  hands  of  the 
stoutest  man.  Hence  you  may  perceive  a  justification 
of  the  "  dead-house."  It  is  no  new  observation,  that 
"climates  form  the  manners  and  habitudes  of  the 
people." 


Sir    Peter    Parker. 


EXPEDITION  AGAINST  CHARLESTON. 


HARLESTON,  the  capital  of 
r  '  South  Carolina,  stands  on  a 
'•jf  ^{  point  of  land  which  lies  be- 
tween the  rivers  Cooper  and 
Ashley,  which  fall  into  a  bay  of  the 
Atlantic;  and  in  the  bay  there  are 
several  islands.  The  people  re- 
solved to  fortify  the  capital  of  the  province ;  and  for 
that  purpose  erected  a  fort  on  Sullivan's  Island,  which 
lies  in  the  bay,  about  six  miles  below  the  town,  and 
near  the  channel  leading  to  it.  The  fort  was  con- 


166  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

structed  with  the  wood  of  the  palmetto,  a  tree  peculiar 
to  the  Southern  States,  which  grows  from  twenty  to 
forty  feet  high  without  branches,  and  terminates  in  a 
top  resembling  the  head  of  a  cabbage.  The  wood  of 
the  tree  is  remarkably  spongy  j  and  a  ball  entering  it 
makes  no  extended  fracture,  but  buries  itself  in  the 
wood,  without  injuring  the  adjacent  parts.  The  fort 
was  mounted  with  about  thirty  cannon — thirty-two, 
eighteen,  and  nine-pounders. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1775  and  beginning 
of  1776,  great  exertions  had  been  made  in  Britain  to 
send  an  overwhelming  force  into  America;  and  on 
the  2d  of  June  the  alarm-guns  were  fired  in  the 
vicinity  of  Charleston,  and  expresses  sent  to  the 
militia  officers  to  hasten  to  the  defence  of  the  capital 
with  the  forces  under  their  command.  The  order 
was  promptly  obeyed ;  and  some  continental  regi- 
ments from  the  neighbouring  states  also  arrived.  The 
whole  was  under  the  direction  of  General  Lee,  who 
had  been  appointed  commander  of  all  the  forces  in 
the  Southern  States,  and  had  under  him  the  conti- 
nental generals,  Armstrong  and  Howe. 

The  utmost  activity  prevailed  in  Charleston. 
The  citizens,  abandoning  their  usual  avocations,  em- 
ployed themselves  entirely  in  putting  the  town  into  a 
respectable  state  of  defence.  They  pulled  down  the 
valuable  storehouses  on  the  wharves,  barricaded  the 
streets,  and  constructed  lines  of  defence  along  the 
shore.  Relinquishing  the  pursuits  of  peaceful  industry 
and  commercial  gain,  they  engaged  in  incessant  la- 
bour, and  prepared  for  bloody  conflicts.  The  troops, 
amounting  to  between  five  and  six  thousand  men, 


EXPEDITION   AGAINST    CHARLESTON.        167 

were  stationed  in  the  most  advantageous  positions. 
The  second  and  third  regular  regiments  of  South 
Carolina,  under  Colonels  Moultrie  and  Thomson, 
were  posted  on  Sullivan's  Island.  A  regiment,  com- 
manded by  Colonel  Gadsden,  was  stationed  at  Fort 
Johnson,  about  three  miles  below  Charleston,  on 
the  most  northerly  point  of  James's  Island,  and  within 
point-blank  shot  of  the  channel.  The  rest  of  the 
troops  were  posted  at  Haddrel's  Point,  along  the  bay 
near  the  town,  and  at  such  other  places  as  were 
thought  most  proper.  Amidst  all  this  bustle  and 
preparation,  lead  for  bullets  was  extremely  scarce, 
and  the  windows  of  Charleston  were  stripped  of 
their  weights,  in  order  to  procure  a  small  supply  of 
that  necessary  article. 

While  the  Americans  were  thus  busily  employed, 
the  British  exerted  themselves  with  activity.  About 
the  middle  of  February,  an  armament  sailed  from  the 
cove  of  Cork,  under  the  command  of  Sir  Peter  Parker 
and  Earl  Cornwallis,  to  encourage  and  support  the 
loyalists  in  the  southern  provinces. 

After  a  tedious  voyage,  the  greater  part  of  the  fleet 
reached  Cape  Fear,  in  North  Carolina,  on  the  3d  of 
May.  General  Clinton,  who  had  left  Boston  in  De- 
cember, took  the  command  of  the  land  forces,  and 
issued  a  proclamation,  promising  pardon  to  all  the 
inhabitants  who  laid  down  their  arms ;  but  that  pro- 
clamation produced  no  effect.  Early  in  June,  an 
armament,  consisting  of  between  forty  and  fifty  ves- 
sels, appeared  off  Charleston  Bay,  and  thirty-six  of 
the  transports  passed  the  bar,  and  anchored  about 
three  miles  from  Sullivan's  Island.  Some  hundreds  of 


168  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

the  troops  landed  on  Long  Island,  which  lies  on  the 
west  of  Sullivan's  Island,  and  which  is  separated  from  it 
by  a  narrow  channel,  often  fordable.  On  the  10th  of 
the  month,  the  Bristol,  a  fifty-gun  ship,  having  taken 
out  her  guns,  got  safely  over  the  bar ;  and  on  the  25th, 
the  Experiment,  a  ship  of  equal  force,  arrived,  and  next 
day  passed  in  the  same  way.  On  the  part  of  the 
British  everything  was  now  ready  for  action.  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  had  nearly  three  thousand  men  under 
his  command.  The  naval  force,  under  Sir  Peter  Park- 
er, consisted  of  the  Bristol  and  Experiment,  of  fifty 
guns  each ;  the  Acteon,  Solebay,  and  Syren  frigates, 
of  twenty-eight  guns  each ;  the  Friendship,  of  twenty- 
two,  and  the  Sphinx,  of  twenty  guns ;  the  Ranger 
sloop,  and  Thunder  bomb,  of  eight  guns  each. 

On  the  forenoon  of  the  28th  of  June,  this  fleet  ad- 
vanced against  the  fort  on  Sullivan's  Island,  which 
was  defended  by  Colonel  Moultrie,  with  three  hun- 
dred and  forty-four  regular  troops,  and  some  militia, 
who  volunteered  their  services  on  the  occasion.  The 
Thunder  bomb  began  the  battle.  The  Acteon,  Bristol, 
Experiment,  and  Solebay  followed  boldly  to  the  attack, 
and  a  terrible  cannonade  ensued.  The  fort  returned 
the  fire  of  the  ships  slowly,  but  with  deliberate  and 
deadly  aim.  The  contest  was  carried  on  during  the 
whole  day  with  unabating  fury.  All  the  forces  col- 
lected at  Charleston  stood  prepared  for  battle;  and 
both  the  troops  and  the  numerous  spectators  beheld 
the  conflict  with  alternations  of  hope  and  fear,  which 
appeared  in  their  countenances  and  gestures.  They 
knew  not  how  soon  the  fort  might  be  silenced  or  passed 
by,  and  the  attack  made  immediately  upon  them- 


ATTACK   ON    FORT    MOULTRIE.  169 

selves ;  but  they  were  resolved  to  meet  the  invaders 
at  the  water's  edge,  to  dispute  every  inch  of  ground,  and 
to  prefer  death  to  what  they  considered  to  be  slavery. 

The  Sphinx,  Acteon,  and  Syren  were  ordered  to 
attack  the  western  extremity  of  the  fort,  which  was 
in  a  very  unfinished  state ;  but  as  they  proceeded  for 
that  purpose,  they  got  entangled  with  a  shoal,  called 
the  Middle  Ground.  Two  of  them  ran  foul  of  each 
other ;  the  Acteon  stuck  fast ;  the  Sphinx  and  Syren 
got  off,  the  former  with  the  loss  of  her  bowsprit,  the 
latter  with  little  injury ;  but,  happily  for  the  Ameri- 
cans, that  part  of  the  attack  completely  failed. 

It  had  been  concerted  that,  during  the  attack  by 
the  ships,  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  with  the  troops,  should 
pass  the  narrow  channel  which  separates  Long  Island 
from  Sullivan's  Island,  and  assail  the  fort  by  land ;  but 
this  the  general  found  impracticable ;  for  the  channel, 
though  commonly  fordable,  was  at  that  time,  by  a  long 
prevalence  of  easterly  winds,  deeper  than  usual.  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  and  some  other  officers  waded  up  to 
the  shoulders ;  but  finding  the  depth  still  increasing, 
they  abandoned  the  intention  of  attempting  the  passage. 
The  seamen  who  found  themselves  engaged  in  such  a 
severe  conflict,  often  cast  a  wistful  look  towards  Long 
Island,  in  the  hope  of  seeing  Sir  Henry  Clinton  and  the 
troops  advancing  against  the  fort ;  but  their  hope  was 
disappointed,  and  the  ships  and  the  fort  were  left  to 
themselves  to  decide  the  combat.  Although  the  chan- 
nel had  been  fordable,  the  British  troops  would  have 
found  the  passage  an  arduous  enterprise  ;  for  Colonel 
Thomson,  with  a  strong  detachment  of  riflemen,  reg- 
ulars, and  militia,  was  posted  on  the  east  end  of  Sulli- 
15 


170  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

van's  Island  to  oppose  any  attack  made  in  that 
quarter. 

In  the  course  of  the  day  the  fire  of  the  fort  ceased 
for  a  short  time,  and  the  British  flattered  themselves 
that  the  guns  were  abandoned;  but  the  pause  was 
occasioned  solely  by  the  want  of  powder,  and  when  a 
supply  was  obtained  the  cannonade  recommenced  as 
steadily  as  before.  The  engagement,  which  began 
about  eleven  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  continued  with 
unabated  fury  till  seven  in  the  evening,  when  the  fire 
slackened,  and  about  nine  entirely  ceased  on  both 
sides.  During  the  night,  all  the  ships  except  the 
Acteon,  which  was  aground,  removed  about  two 
miles  from  the  island.  Next  morning  the  fort  fired  a 
few  shots  at  the  Acteon,  and  she  at  first  returned 
them ;  but,  in  a  short  time,  her  crew  set  her  on  fire 
and  abandoned  her.  A  party  of  Americans  boarded 
the  burning  vessel,  seized  her  colours,  fired  some  of 
her  guns  at  Commodore  Parker,  filled  three  boats 
with  her  sails  and  stores,  and  then  quitted  her.  She 
blew  up  shortly  afterwards. 

In  this  obstinate  engagement  both  parties  fought 
with  great  gallantry.  The  loss  of  the  British  was 
considerable.  The  Bristol  had  forty  men  killed,  and 
seventy-one  wounded ;  Mr.  Morris,  her  captain,  lost 
an  arm.  The  Experiment  had  twenty-three  men 
killed,  and  seventy-six  wounded ;  Captain  Scott,  her 
commander,  also  lost  an  arm ;  Lord  William  Camp- 
bell, the  late  governor  of  the  province,  who  served  on 
board  as  a  volunteer,  received  a  wound  in  his  side, 
which  ultimately  proved  mortal ;  Commodore  Sir 
Peter  Parker  received  a  slight  contusion.  The 


ATTACK    ON    FORT    MOULTRIE.  171 

Acteon  had  Lieutenant  Pike  killed,  and  six  men 
wounded.  The  Solebay  had  eight  men  wounded. 
After  some  days  the  troops  were  all  reimbarked,  and 
the  whole  armament  sailed  for  New  York.  The  gar- 
rison lost  ten  men  killed,  and  twenty-two  wounded. 
Although  the  Americans  were  raw  troops,  yet  they 
behaved  with  the  steady  intrepidity  of  veterans.  In 
the  course  of  the  engagement  the  flag-staff  of  the  fort 
was  shot  away;  but  Sergeant  Jasper  leaped  down 
upon  the  beach,  snatched  up  the  flag,  fastened  it  to 
a  sponge  staff,  and,  while  the  ships  were  incessantly 
directing  their  broadsides  upon  the  fort,  he  mounted 
the  merlon  and  deliberately  replaced  the  flag.  Next 
day  President  Rutledge  presented  him  with  a  sword, 
as  a  testimony  of  respect  for  his  distinguished  valour. 
Colonel  Moultrie,  and  the  officers  and  troops  on  Sul- 
livan's Island,  received  the  thanks  of  their  country 
for  their  bravery ;  and,  in  honour  of  the  gallant  com- 
mander, the  fort  was  named  Fort  Moultrie. 

The  failure  of  the  attack  on  Charleston  was  of 
great  importance  to  the  American  cause,  and  con- 
tributed much  to  the  establishment  of  the  popular 
government.  The  friends  of  Congress  triumphed; 
and  numbers  of  them,  ignorant  of  tfce  power  of 
Britain  and  of  the  spirit  which  animated  her  counsels, 
fondly  imagined  that  their  freedom  was  achieved. 
The  diffident  became  bold ;  the  advocates  of  the  irre- 
sistibility of  British  fleets  and  armies  were  mor- 
tified and  silenced;  and  they  who  from  interested 
motives  had  hitherto  been  loud  in  their  professions  of 
loyalty,  began  to  alter  their  tone.  The  brave  defence 
of  Fort  Moultrie  saved  the  Southern  States  from  the 
horrors  of  war  for  several  years. 


Iiidependence  Hall,  Philadelphia. 


THE  DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE. 


HE  part  taken  by  Adams 
and  Jefferson  in  bringing 
about  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  is  thus  de- 
scribed by  Mr.  Everett : 

In   1774,  arid  on  the 
17th  of  June,  a  day  des- 
tined to  be  in  every  way 
illustrious,     Mr.     Adams 
a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress, 


was  elected 


DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE.    173 

of  which  body  he  was  signalized,  from  the  first,  as  a 
distinguished  leader.  In  the  month  of  June  in  the 
following  year,  when  a  commander-in-chief  was  to  be 
chosen  for  the  American  armies,  and  when  that 
appointment  seemed  in  course  to  belong  to  the 
commanding  general  of  the  brave  army  from  Massa- 
chusetts and  the  neighbouring  states,  which  had 
rushed  to  the  field,  Mr.  Adams  nominated  George 
Washington  to  that  all-important  post,  and  was  thus 
far  the  means  of  securing  the  blessing  of  his  guidance 
to  the  American  armies. 

In  August  1775,  Mr.  Jefferson  took  his  seat  in  the 
Continental  Congress,  preceded  by  the  fame  of  being 
one  of  the  most  accomplished  and  powerful  cham- 
pions of  the  cause,  though  among  the  youngest  mem- 
bers of  the  body.  It  was  the  wish  of  Mr.  Adams, 
and  probably  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  that  independence 
should  be  declared  in  the  fall  of  1775 ;  but  the  coun- 
try seemed  not  then  ripe  for  the  measure. 

At  length  the  accepted  time  arrived.  In  May 
1776,  the  colonies,  on  the  proposition  of  Mr.  Adams, 
were  invited  by  the  General  Congress  to  establish 
their  several  state  governments.  On  the  7th  of  June 
the  resolution  of  independence  was  moved  by  Richard 
Henry  Lee.  On  the  llth  a  committee  of  five  was 
chosen,  to  announce  this  resolution  to  the  world ;  and 
Thomas  Jefferson  and  John  Adams  stood  at  the  head 
of  this  committee.  From  their  designation  by  ballot 
to  this  most  honourable  duty,  their  elevated  standing 
in  the  Congress  might  alone  be  inferred.  In  their  ami- 

o  o 

cable  contention  and  deference  each  to  the  other  of 
the  great  trust  ef  composing  the  all-important  docu- 
15* 


174  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

ment,  we  witness  their  patriotic  disinterestedness  and 
their  mutual  respect.  This  trust  devolved  on  Jeffer- 
son, and  with  it  rests  on  him  the  imperishable  renown 
of  having  penned  the  Declaration  of  Independence  of 
America.  To  have  been  the  instrument  of  expressing, 
in  one  brief  decisive  act,  the  concentrated  will  and  reso- 
lution of  a  whole  family  of  states ;  of  unfolding,  in  one 
all-important  manifesto,  the  causes,  the  motives,  the  justi- 
fication of  the  great  movement  in  human  affairs  which 
was  then  taking  place;  to  have  been  permitted  to 
give  the  impress  and  peculiarity  of  his  own  mind  to  a 
charter  of  public  right,  destined,  or  rather  let  me  say, 
already  elevated  to  an  importance,  in  the  estimation 
of  men,  beyond  everything  human,  ever  borne  on 
parchment,  or  expressed  in  the  visible  signs  of  thought, 
this  is  the  glory  of  Thomas  Jefferson.  To  have  been 
among  the  first  of  those  who  foresaw,  and  foreseeing 
broke  the  way  for  this  great  consummation ;  to  have 
been  the  mover  of  numerous  decisive  acts,  its  un- 
doubted precursors ;  to  have  been  among  many  able 
and  generous  spirits,  that  united  in  this  perilous  ad- 
venture, by  acknowledgment  unsurpassed  in  zeal,  and 
unequalled  in  power ;  to  have  been  exclusively  associa- 
ted with  the  author  of  the  declaration ;  and  then,  in 
the  exercise  of  an  eloquence  as  prompt  as  it  was  over- 
whelming, to  have  taken  the  lead  in  inspiring  the 
Congress  to  adopt  and  proclaim  it,  this  is  the  glory 
of  John  Adams. 

Nor  was  it  among  common  and  inferior  minds,  that 
these  men  enjoyed  their  sublime  pre-eminence.  In  the 
body  that  elected  Mr.  Jefferson  to  draft  the  Declaration 
of  Independence,  there  sat  a  patriot  sage,  than  whom 


DECLARATION    OF    INDEPENDENCE.          175 

the  English  language  does  not  boast  a  better  writer, 
Benjamin  Franklin.  And  Mr.  Adams  was  pronounced 
by  Mr.  Jefferson  himself  the  ablest  advocate  of  inde- 
pendence, in  a  Congress  which  could  boast  among  its 
members  such  men  as  Patrick  Henry,  Richard  Henry 
Lee,  and  our  own  Samuel  Adams.  They  were  great 
and  among  great  men ;  mightiest  among  the  mighty ; 
and  enjoyed  their  lofty  standing  in  a  body  of  which 
half  the  members  might  with  honour  have  presided 
over  the  deliberative  councils  of  a  nation. 

All  glorious  as  their  office  in  this  council  of  sages 
has  proved,  they  beheld  the  glory  only  in  distant  vision, 
while  the  prospect  before  them  was  shrouded  with 
darkness  and  lowering  with  terror.  "  I  am  not  trans- 
ported with  enthusiasm,"  is  the  language  of  Mr.  Adams, 
the  day  after  the  resolution  was  adopted ;  "  I  am  well 
aware  of  the  toil,  the  treasure,  and  the  blood  it  will 
cost,  to  maintain  this  declaration,  to  support  and  defend 
these  states.  Yet  through  all  the  gloom,  I  can  see  a 
ray  of  light  and  glory.  I  can  see  that  the  end  is  worth 
more  than  all  the  means."  Nor  was  it  the  rash  adven- 
ture of  uneasy  spirits,  who  had  everything  to  gain  and 
nothing  to  risk  by  their  enterprise.  They  left  all  for 
their  country's  sake.  Who  does  not  see  that  Adams 
and  Jefferson  might  have  risen  to  any  station  in  the 
British  empire !  They  might  have  revelled  in  the  royal 
bounty ;  they  might  have  shared  the  imperial  counsels ; 
they  might  have  stood  within  the  shadow  of  the  throne 
which  they  shook  to  its  base.  It  was  in  the  full  un- 
derstanding of  their  all  but  desperate  choice,  that  they 
chose  for  their  country.  Many  were  the  inducements 
which  called  them  to  another  choice.  The  dread  voice 


176  REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 

of  authority;  the  array  of  an  empire's  power;  the 
pleadings  of  friendship ;  the  yearning  of  their  hearts 
towards  the  land  of  their  fathers'  sepulchres — the  land 
which  the  great  champions  of  constitutional  liberty 
still  made  venerable ;  the  ghastly  vision  of  the  gibbet, 
if  they  failed ;  all  the  feelings  which  grew  from  these 
sources  were  to  be  stifled  and  kept  down,  for  a  dearer 
treasure  was  at  stake.  They  were  anything  but  ad- 
venturers, anything  but  malecontents.  They  loved 
peace,  they  loved  order,  they  loved  law,  they  loved  a 
manly  obedience  to  constitutional  authority ;  but  they 
chiefly  loved  freedom  and  their  country ;  and  they  took 
up  the  ark  of  her  liberties  with  pure  hands,  and  bore 
it  through  in  triumph,  for  their  strength  was  in 
Heaven. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  LONG  ISLAND. 

N  evacuating  Boston,  General 
Howe  retired  with  his  forces 
to  Halifax,  and  General  Wash- 
ington started  for  New  York, 
where  he  soon  arrived  with 
his  army.  In  that  city  the 
British  interest  had  been  more 
powerful  than  in  any  other 
place  in  the  provinces;  and  the  struggle  between 
the  friends  of  British  domination  and  of  American 
freedom  had  been  more  doubtful  there  than  in  any 
other  quarter.  But,  by  superior  numbers  and  more 


178  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

daring  activity,  the  adherents  of  Congress  had  gained 
the  ascendancy.  On  his  arrival  in  the  city,  General 
Washington  endeavoured  to  put  it  into  a  posture  of 
defence ;  and  as  the  British,  by  means  of  their  fleet, 
had  the  command  of  the  waters,  he  attempted  to 
obstruct  the  navigation  of  the  East  and  North  Rivers, 
by  sinking  vessels  in  the  channels.  He  also  raised 
fortifications  at  New  York,  and  on  Long  Island ;  and 
made  every  preparation  in  his  power  for  giving  the 
British  army  a  vigorous  reception. 

General  Howe  remained  some  time  at  Halifax ;  but 
after  the  recovery  of  his  troops  from  the  fatigue  and 
sickness  occasioned  by  the  blockade  of  Boston,  he  em- 
barked, sailed  to  the  southward,  and  on  the  2d  of  July 
landed,  without  opposition,  on  Staten  Island,  which 
lies  on  the  coast  of  New  Jersey,  and  is  separated  from 
Long  Island  by  a  channel  called  the  Narrows.  His 
army  amounted  to  nine  thousand  men ;  and  his  brother 
Lord  Howe,  commander  of  the  British  fleet,  who  had 
touched  at  Halifax  expecting  to  find  him  there,  arrived 
soon  afterwards,  with  a  reinforcement  of  about  twenty 
thousand  men  from  Britain.  Thus  General  Howe  had 
the  command  of  nearly  thirty  thousand  troops,  for  the 
purpose  of  subjugating  the  American  colonies ;  a  more 
formidable  force  than  had  ever  before  visited  these 
shores.  General  Washington  was  ill  prepared  to  meet 
such  a  powerful  army.  His  force  consisted  of  about 
nine  thousand  men,  many  of  whom  were  ill-armed,  and 
about  two  thousand  more  without  any  arms  at  all; 
but  new  levies  were  daily  coming  in. 

On  his  arrival,  Lord  Howe,  by  a  flag,  sent  ashore 
to  Amboy  a  circular  letter  to  several  of  the  late  royal 


BATTLE   OF    LONG    ISLAND.  179 

governors,  and  a  declaration  mentioning  the  powers 
with  which  he  and  his  brother  the  general  were  invested, 
and  desiring  their  publication.  These  papers  General 
Washington  transmitted  to  Congress,  who  ordered  them 
to  be  published  in  the  newspapers,  that  the  people,  as 
they  alleged,  might  be  apprised  of  the  nature  and  extent 
of  the  powers  of  these  commissioners,  with  the  expect- 
ation of  whom  it  had  been  attempted  to  amuse  and 
disarm  them.  General  Howe  wished  to  open  a  corres- 
pondence with  General  Washington,  but  without 
acknowledging  his  official  character  as  commander- 
in-chief  of  the  American  armies ;  and  for  this  purpose 
he  sent  a  letter  to  New  York,  addressed  to  "  George 
Washington,  Esquire."  That  letter  the  general  refused 
to  receive,  because  it  was  not  addressed  to  him  in  his 
official  character.  A  second  letter  was  sent,  addressed 
to  "  George  Washington,  &c.  &c.  &c."  That  also, 
the  general  declined  to  receive ;  but  acted  in  the  most 
polite  manner  towards  Adjutant-General  Paterson,  the 
officer  who  bore  it ;  who,  on  his  part,  behaved  himself 
in  a  manner  becoming  his  character  as  a  gentleman. 
Congress  approved  of  the  conduct  of  General  Wash- 
ington on  the  occasion ;  and  ordered  that  none  of  their 
officers  should  receive  letters  or  messages  from  the 
British  army  unless  addressed  to  them  according  to 
their  respective  ranks.  But  this  dispute  about  a  point 
of  form  was  soon  succeeded  by  the  din  of  arms  and 
the  horrors  of  active  warfare.  The  American  army 
was  not  very  formidable.  In  the  month  of  July,  indeed, 
it  amounted  to  about  seventeen  thousand  men,  but  a 
much  greater  number  had  been  expected ;  of  fifteen 
thousand  new  levies,  that  had  been  ordered,  only  five 


180 


REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 


Washington    declining   Howe's   Letter. 


thousand  had  arrived  in  camp.  But  the  quality  and 
equipment  of  the  troops  were  more  discouraging  than 
their  numbers:  they  were  ill-disciplined,  ill-armed, 
and  little  accustomed  to  that  subordination  and  prompt 
obedience,  which  are  essential  to  the  efficiency  of  an 
army.  They  were  as  deficient  in  ammunition  as  in 
armour ;  and,  instead  of  being  cordially  united  in  the 
common  cause,  they  were  distracted  by  provincial  jea- 
lousies, prejudices,  and  animosities. 

This  raw  and  ill-armed  multitude  was  opposed  to 
thirty  thousand  troops,  many  of  them  veterans,  all  of 
them  excellently  equipped,  and  provided  with  a  'fine 
train  of  artillery.  The  Americans  soon  had  the  mor- 
tification to  find  that  all  their  endeavours  to  obstruct 


BATTLE   OF    LONG   ISLAND.  181 

the  navigation  of  the  rivers  were  ineffectual ;  for  several 
British  ships-of-war  passed  up  the  North  River,  with- 
out receiving  any  considerable  damage  from  a  heavy 
cannonade  directed  against  them  from  the  shore. 

The  American  army  was  posted  partly  at  New 
York,  and  partly  on  Long  Island.  General  Greene 
commanded  in  the  latter  place ;  but  that  officer  being 
taken  ill,  General  Sullivan  was  appointed  in  his  room. 
General  Howe,  having  collected  his  troops  on  Staten 
Island,  and  finding  himself  sufficiently  strong  to  com- 
mence active  operations,  on  the  22d  of  August 
crossed  the  Narrows  without  opposition,  and  landed 
on  Long  Island,  between  two  small  towns,  Utrecht 
and  Gravesend. 

The  American  division  on  the  island,  about  eleven 
thousand  strong,  occupied  a  fortified  camp  at 
Brooklyn,  opposite  New  York.  Their  right  flank 
was  covered  by  a  marsh,  which  extended  to  the 
East  River  near  Mill  Creek ;  their  left,  by  an  elbow 
of  the  river  named  Wallabach  Bay.  Across  the 
peninsula,  from  Mill  Creek  to  Wallabach  Bay,  the 
Americans  had  thrown  up  intrenchments,  secured  by 
abattis,  or  felled  trees  with  their  tops  turned  outwards, 
and  flanked  by  strong  redoubts.  In  their  rear  was 
the  East  River,  about  thirteen  hundred  yards  wide, 
separating  them  from  New  York.  In  front  of  the 
fortified  camp,  and  at  some  distance  from  it,  a  woody 
ridge  obliquely  intersected  the  island;  and  through 
that  ridge  there  are  passages  by  three  different  de- 
files— one  at  the  southern  extremity  near  the  Narrows, 
another  about  the  middle  on  the  Flatbush  road,  and 
a  third  near  the  northeast  extremity  of  the  hills  on 
16 


182  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

the  Bedford  road.  Those  defiles  General  Greene  had 
carefully  examined ;  and  as  it  was  evident  that  the 
British  army  must  debark  on  the  further  side  of  the 
ridge,  he  resolved  to  dispute  the  passage  of  the  defiles. 
General  Sullivan,  who  succeeded  to  the  command  on 
the  illness  of  General  Greene,  was  not  equally  sensible 
of  the  importance  of  those  passes.  On  the  landing 
of  the  British,  however,  he  sent  strong  detachments 
to  guard  the  passes  near  the  Narrows,  and  on  the 
Flatbush  road ;  but  the  more  distant  pass  he  did  not 
duly  attend  to,  merely  sending  an  officer  with  a  party 
to  observe  it,  and  give  notice  if  the  enemy  should 
appear  there.  That  was  no  adequate  precaution  for 
the  security  of  the  pass ;  and  the  officer  appointed  to 
watch  it  discharged  his  duty  in  the  most  slovenly 
manner. 

General  Howe  soon  learned  that  there  would  be 
little  difficulty  in  marching  by  the  most  distant  defile, 
and  turning  the  left  of  the  Americans.  Accordingly, 
early  in  the  morning  of  the  27th  of  August,  assisted 
by  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  who  had  joined  him  some  time 
before  with  the  troops  that  had  been  employed  in  the 
unsuccessful  attack  on  Sullivan's  Island,  he  marched 
with  a  strong  column  towards  that  defile.  In  order 
to  divert  the  attention  of  the  Americans  from  that 
movement,  he  ordered  Generals  Grant  and  Heister, 
with  their  respective  divisions,  to  attack  the  passes 
near  the  Narrows  and  on  the  Flatbush  road.  General 
Grant  proceeded  to  the  southernmost  defile.  The 
American  advanced  guard  fled  on  his  approach ;  but 
the  commander  of  the  detachment  appointed  to  guard 
that  pass  afterwards  occupied  an  advantageous  po- 


BATTLE   OF    LONG   ISLAND.  183 

suion,  and  bravely  maintained  his  ground.  General 
Heister,  with  the  Hessians,  skirmished  on  the  Flat- 
bush  road. 

While  the  attention  of  the  Americans  was  engaged 
by  the  operation  of  those  two  columns,  the  main  body 
of  the  British  army  proceeded  without  interruption 
through  the  most  remote  pass ;  and  the  American 
officer  appointed  to  observe  that  road,  performed  his 
duty  so  ill,  that  General  Howe's  column  had  nearly 
gained  the  rear  of  the  American  detachment  who  de- 
fended the  pass  on  the  Flatbush  road,  before  he  gave 
the  alarm.  That  division  had  hitherto  steadily  resist- 
ed the  Hessians ;  but  being  apprised  of  the  progress 
of  the  hostile  column  on  their  left,  and  being  appre- 
hensive of  an  attack  on  their  rear,  they  began  to  re- 
treat. That  movement,  however,  was  too  late ;  for 
they  were  met  by  the  British  who  had  now  gained 
their  rear,  and  who  drove  them  back  on  the  Hessians, 
who,  in  their  turn,  compelled  them  to  retreat  towards 
the  British.  Thus  they  were  driven  backward  and 
forward  between  two  fires,  till,  by  a  desperate  effort, 
the  greater  part  of  them  forced  their  way  through  the 
British  line,  and  regained  their  camp. 

The  division  which  opposed  General  Grant  fought 
bravely,  and  maintained  their  ground  until  informed 
of  the  defeat  of  the  left  wing,  when  they  retreated  in 
confusion ;  and,  in  order  to  avoid  the  enemy,  who 
were  far  advanced  on  their  rear,  the  greater  part  of 
them  attempted  to  escape  along  the  dike  of  a  mill-dam, 
and  through  a  marsh,  where  many  of  them  perished, 
but  a  remnant  regained  the  camp.  This  division  suf- 
fered severely,  and  the  loss  was  much  regretted,  be- 


184  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR. 

cause  many  young  men  of  the  most  respectable 
families  in  Maryland  belonged  to  it,  and  fell  on  the 
occasion. 

The  British  soldiers  behaved  with  their  usual 
courage,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  that  they  were 
restrained  from  instantly  attacking  the  American 
camp:  but  General  Howe,  who  always  exercised  a 
laudable  care  of  the  lives  of  his  men,  checked  their 
impetuosity ;  perceiving  that,  without  any  great  loss, 
he  could  compel  the  Americans  to  surrender,  or  to 
evacuate  their  camp.  On  that  disastrous  day  the 
Americans  lost  two  thousand  men,  in  killed,  wounded, 
and  prisoners ;  among  the  latter  were  Generals  Sulli- 
van, Woodhull,  and  Alexander,  titular  Lord  Stirling. 
They  also  lost  six  pieces  of  artillery.  The  British 
and  Hessians  had  between  three  and  four  hundred 
men  killed  or  wounded. 

To  attempt  the  defence  of  the  islands  against  an 
enemy  with  a  triumphant  navy  was  an  error  in  the 
American  plan  of  the  campaign ;  but  the  loss  of 
the  battle,  or  at  least  the  easy  victory  of  the 
British,  was  owing  to  the  incapacity  of  General 
Sullivan.  He  was  full  of  confidence,  and  paid  no 
due  attention  to  the  more  distant  pass;  but  the 
issue  of  the  day  showed  him,  that  confidence  was 
not  always  the  harbinger  of  success.  Had  Greene 
commanded,  the  result  would  probably  have  been 
somewhat  different. 

In  the  evening,  the  victorious  army  encamped  in 
front  of  the  American  works;  and  on  the  morning 
of  the  28th,  broke  ground  about  six  hundred  yards 
from  the  redoubt  on  the  left.  The  Americans  soon 


BATTLE    OF    LONG    ISLAND.  187 

became  sensible  that  their  position  was  untenable, 
and  a  retreat  was  resolved  on;  but  the  execution 
of  that  measure  presented  great  difficulties.  The 
East  River,  nearly  a  mile  broad,  and  sufficiently  deep 
to  float  vessels  of  war,  was  in  their  rear ;  the  British 
had  a  strong  fleet  at  hand ;  and  the  victorious  army 
was  in  front.  Escape  seemed  impracticable ;  but  in 
the  face  of  all  those  difficulties,  the  Americans,  to 
the  number  of  nine  thousand  men,  with  their  am- 
munition, artillery,  provisions,  horses,  and  carriages, 
on  the  evening  of  the  29th  and  morning  of  the  30th 
of  August,  passed  over  from  Brooklyn  to  New  York, 
without  the  loss  of  a  man.  The  retreat  took  thirteen 
hours,  during  part  of  which  time  it  rained ;  and,  on 
the  morning  of  the  30th,  a  thick  fog  hung  over  Long 
Island,  and  concealed  from  the  British  the  operations 
of  the  Americans,  while  at  New  York  the  atmosphere 
was  perfectly  clear.  The  fog  disappeared  about  half 
an  hour  after  the  American  rear-guard  had  left  the 
island.  Thus,  by  great  exertions  and  a  fortunate 
combination  of  circumstances,  the  American  army 
escaped  from  the  perilous  situation  in  which  it  had 
been  placed. 


General    Charles    Lee. 


WASHINGTON'S  RETREAT  THROUGH  JERSEY  — 
CAPTURE  OF  GENERAL  LEE. 


N  the  12th  of  November, 
General  Washington  had 
crossed  the  North  River 
with  part  of  his  army,  and 
taken  a  position  not  far  from 
Fort  Lee,  having  left  up- 
wards of  seven  thousand 
men  at  North  Castle,  under 
the  command  of  General  Lee. 


RETREAT    THROUGH    JERSEY.  18 

At  that  time,  the  American  army  was  in  a  critical 
and  alarming  state.  It  was  composed  chiefly  of 
militia,  and  of  men  engaged  for  a  short  time  only. 
The  term  of  service  of  many  of  them  was  about  to 
expire ;  and  the  republican  military  force  was  on  the 
point  of  dissolution,  in  the  presence  of  a  well-dis- 
ciplined, well-appointed,  and  victorious  enemy. 

In  that  threatening  posture  of  public  affairs,  Gen- 
eral Washington  applied  to  the  state  of  Massa- 
chusetts for  four  thousand  new  militia;  and  Gen- 
eral Lee  besought  the  militia  under  his  command  to 
remain  for  a  few  days  after  their  term  of  service  was 
expired.  But  the  application  of  the  commander-in- 
chief  was  not  promptly  answered ;  and  the  earnest 
entreaties  of  General  Lee  were  almost  utterly  disre- 
garded. 

On  the  fall  of  Forts  Washington  and  Lee,  General 
Washington,  with  his  little  army,  of  about  three  thou- 
sand effective  men,  ill  armed,  worse  clad,  and  almost 
without  tents,  blankets,  or  utensils  for  cooking  their 
provisions,  took  a  position  behind  the  Hackensack. 
His  army  consisted  chiefly  of  the  garrison  of  Fort 
Lee,  which  had  been  obliged  to  evacuate  that  place 
with  so  much  precipitation  as  to  leave  behind  them  the 
tents  and  most  of  the  articles  of  comfort  and  accom- 
modation in  their  possession.  But  although  General 
Washington  made  a  show  of  resistance  by  occupying 
the  line  of  the  Hackensack,  yet  he  was  sensible  of  his 
inability  to  dispute  the  passage  of  that  river ;  he  there- 
fore retreated  to  Newark.  There  he  remained  some 
days,  making  the  most  earnest  applications  in  every 


190 


REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 


Retreat  through    New   Jersey. 


quarter  for  reinforcements,  and  pressing  General  Lee 
to  hasten  his  march  to  the  southward  and  join  him. 

On  the  advance  of  Earl  Cornwallis,  General 
Washington  abandoned  Newark,  and  retreated  to 
Brunswick,  a  small  village  on  the  Raritan.  While 
there,  the  term  of  service  of  a  number  of  his  troops 
expired,  and  he  had  the  mortification  to  see  them 
abandon  him.  From  Brunswick  the  Americans  re- 
treated to  Trenton.  There  General  Washington  re- 
ceived a  reinforcement  of  about  two  thousand  men 
from  Pennsylvania.  He  had  taken  the  precaution  of 
collecting  and  guarding  all  the  boats  on  the  Delaware 
from  Philadelphia  for  seventy  miles  higher  up  the  river. 
He  sent  his  sick  to  Philadelphia,  and  his  heavy  artillery 
and  baggage  across  the  Delaware.  Having  taken  these 
precautionary  measures,  and  being  somewhat  encour- 
aged by  the  reinforcements  which  he  had  received,  he 


RETREAT    THROUGH    JERSEY.  191 

halted  some  time  at  Trenton,  and  even  began  to  advance 
towards  Princeton ;  but  being  informed  that  Earl  Corn- 
wallis,  strongly  reinforced,  was  marching  against  him, 
he  was  obliged  to  seek  refuge  behind  the  river  Del- 
aware. On  the  8th  of  ^December  he  accomplished 
the  passage  at  Trenton  ferry,  the  van  of  the  British 
army  making  its  appearance  just  as  his  rear-guard 
had  crossed. 

General  Washington  was  careful  to  secure  all  die 
boats  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  and  to  guard  all 
those  places  where  it  was  probable  that  the  Brit- 
ish army  might  attempt  to  pass;  so  that  his  feeble 
army  was  secured  from  the  danger  of  an  immediate 
attack.  The  British  troops  made  demonstrations  of 
an  intention  to  cross  the  river,  and  detachments  were 
stationed  to  oppose  them ;  but  the  attempt  was  not 
seriously  made.  In  this  situation  the  American  com- 
mander anxiously  waited  for  reinforcements,  and  sent 
some  parties  over  the  river  to  observe  and  annoy 
the  enemy. 

While  General  Washington  was  retreating  through 
the  Jerseys,  he  earnestly  desired  General  Lee,  who 
had  been  left  in  command  of  the  division  of  the 
army  at  North  Castle,  to  hasten  his  march  to  the 
Delaware  and  join  the  main  army.  But  that  officer, 
notwithstanding  the  critical  nature  of  the  case,  and 
the  pressing  orders  of  his  commander,  was  in  no 
haste  to  obey.  Reluctant  to  give  up  his  separate 
command,  and  subject  himself  to  superior  authority, 
he  marched  slowly  to  the  southward,  at  the  head  of 
about  three  thousand  men ;  and  his  sluggish  move- 
ments and  unwary  conduct  proved  fatal  to  his  own 


192 


REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 


personal  liberty,  and  excited  a  lively  sensation  through- 
out America.  He  lay  carelessly,  without  a  guard,  and 
at  some  distance  from  his  troops,  at  Baskingridge,  in 
Morris  county,  where,  on  the  13th  of  December, 
Colonel  Harcourt,  who,  witfr  a  small  detachment  of 
light  horse,  had  been  sent  to  observe  the  movements  of 
that  division  of  the  American  army,  by  a  gallant  act 
of  partisan  warfare  made  him  prisoner,  and  conveyed 
him  rapidly  to  New  York.  For  some  time  he  was 
closely  confined,  and  considered  not  as  a  prisoner  of 
war,  but  as  a  deserter  from  the  British  army.  The 
capture  of  General  Lee  was  regarded  as  a  great 
misfortune  by  the  Americans;  for  at  that  time  he 
enjoyed,  in  a  high  degree,  the  esteem  and  confidence 
of  the  friends  of  Congress;  on  the  other  hand,  the  British 
exulted  in  his  captivity,  as  equal  to  a  signal  victory, 
declaring  "  that  they  had  taken  the  American  palla- 
dium." 


General  Knox. 


BATTLE  OF  TRENTON. 

N  that  alarming  state 
of  affairs  which  pre- 
sented itself  in  the 
winter  of  1776,  the 
American  leaders 
still  maintained  an 
erect  posture,  and 
their  brave  and  per- 
severing commander- 
in-chief  did  not  des- 
pair. Congress  actively  employed  all  the  means  in 
their  power  for  supporting  their  independence,  and 
General  Washington  applied  in  every  quarter  for 

17  N 


194  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

reinforcements.  He  perceived  the  security  of  the 
British  commander-in-chief,  and  the  advantages  which 
the  scattered  cantonment  of  his  troops  presented  to 
the  American  arms.  "  Now,"  exclaimed  he,  on  being 
informed  of  the  widely  dispersed  state  of  the  British 
troops,  "  is  the  time  to  clip  their  wings,  when  they 
are  so  spread ;"  and,  accordingly,  he  resolved  to  make 
a  bold  effort  to  check  the  progress  of  the  enemy. 
For  that  purpose  he  planned  an  attack  on  the 
Hessians  at  Trenton.  General  Putnam,  who  was 
stationed  in  Philadelphia,  might  have  been  useful  in 
creating  a  diversion  on  that  side ;  but  in  that  city  the 
disaffection  to  Congress  was  so  great,  and  the  friends 
of  Britain  so  strong,  that  it  was  deemed  inexpedient 
to  withdraw,  even  for  a  short  time,  the  troops  posted 
there.  But  a  small  party  of  militia,  under  Colonel 
Griffin,  passed  the  Delaware  near  Philadelphia,  and 
advanced  to  Mount  Holly.  Count  Donop  marched 
against  them,  but,  on  their  retreat,  he  returned  to 
Bordentown. 

General  Washington  formed  his  troops  into  three 
divisions,  which  were  almost  simultaneously  to  pass 
the  Delaware,  at  three  different  places,  on  the  evening 
of  the  25th  of  December,  hoping  to  surprise  the 
enemy  after  the  festivities  of  Christmas.  One  division, 
under  General  Cadwalader,  was  to  pass  the  river 
in  the  vicinity  of  Bristol,  but  failed  through  inattention 
to  the  state  of  the  tide  and  of  the  river,  as  they  could 
not  land  on  account  of  the  heaps  of  ice  accumulated 
on  the  Jersey  bank.  The  second  division,  under 
General  Irving,  was  to  pass  at  Trenton  ferry,  but 
was  unable  to  make  its  way  through  the  ice.  The 
third  and  main  division,  under  the  command  of 


BATTLE    OF    TRENTON.  195 

General  Washington  in  person,  assisted  by  Generals 
Sullivan  and  Greene,  and  Colonel  Knox  of  the 
artillery,  accomplished  the  passage,  with  great  dif- 
ficulty, at  M'Konkey's  ferry,  about  nine  miles  above 
Trenton.  The  general  had  expected  to  have  his 
troops  on  the  Jersey  side  about  midnight,  and  to 
reach  Trenton  about  five  in  the  morning.  But  the 
difficulties  arising  from  the  accumulation  of  ice  in  the 
river  were  so  great,  that  it  was  three  o'clock  in  the 
morning  before  the  troops  got  across,  and  nearly  four 
before  they  began  to  move  forwards.  They  were 
formed  into  two  divisions,  one  of  which  proceeded 
towards  Trenton  by  the  lower  or  river  road,  and  the 
other  by  the  upper  or  Pennington  road. 

Colonel  Rhalle  had  received  some  intimation  that 
an  attack  on  his  post  was  meditated,  and  probably 
would  be  made  on  the  evening  of  the  25th.  Captain 
Washington,  afterwards  much  distinguished  as  an 
officer  of  cavalry,  had  for  some  days  been  on  a 
scouting  party  in  the  Jerseys  with  about  fifty  foot 
soldiers;  and,  ignorant  of  the  meditated  attack  on 
the  evening  of  the  25th,  had  approached  Trenton, 
exchanged  a  few  shots  with  the  advanced  senti- 
nels, and  then  retreated.  The  Hessians  concluded 
that  this  was  the  threatened  attack,  and  became 
quite  secure.  Captain  Washington,  in  his  retreat, 
met  the  general  advancing  against  Trenton  by 
the  upper  road,  and  joined  him.  Although  some 
apprehensions  were  entertained  that  the  alarm  excited 
by  Captain  Washington's  appearance  might  have  put 
the  Hessians  on  their  guard ;  yet,  as  there  was  now  no 
room  either  for  hesitation  or  delay,  the  Americans 


196  REVOLUTIONARY    WAS. 

steadily  continued  their  march.  The  night  was  severe : 
it  sleeted,  snowed,  and  was  intensely  cold,  and  the 
road  slippery.  But  General  Washington  advanced 
firmly,  and  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  reached 
the  Hessian  advanced  posts,  which  he  instantly  drove 
in ;  and,  so  equal  had  been  the  progress  of  the  columns, 
that  in  three  minutes  afterwards  the  firing  on  the 
river  road  announced  the  arrival  of  the  other  division. 

Colonel  Rhalle,  who  was  a  courageous  officer,  soon 
had  his  men  under  arms,  and  prepared  for  a  brave  de- 
fence; but,  early  in  the  engagement,  he  received  a 
mortal  wound,  and  his  men  being  severely  galled  by 
the  American  artillery,  about  one  thousand  of  them 
threw  down  their  arms  and  surrendered  themselves 
prisoners  of  war ;  but  a  considerable  body  of  them, 
chiefly  light  horse,  retreated  towards  Bordentown  and 
made  their  escape. 

In  this  attack  not  many  Hessians  were  killed,  and 
the  Americans  lost  only  four  or  five  men,  some  of 
whom  were  frozen  to  death  by  the  intense  cold  of 
the  night.  Some  of  General  Washington's  officers 
wished  him  to  follow  up  his  success,  and  he  was  much 
inclined  to  pursue  that  course ;  but  a  council  of  war 
was  averse  from  the  measure,  and  he  did  not  think  it 
advisable  to  act  contrary  to  the  prevailing  opinion. 
On  the  evening  of  the  26th  he  repassed  the  Dela- 
ware, carrying  his  prisoners  along  with  him,  and  their 
arms,  colours,  and  artillery. 

This  enterprise,  although  it  failed  in  several  of  its 
parts,  was  completely  successful  in  so  far  as  it  was 
under  the  immediate  direction  of  the  commander-in- 
chief,  and  it  had  a  happy  effect  on  the  affairs  of 


BATTLE    OF    TRENTON. 


197 


America.  It  was  the  first  wave  of  the  returning  tide. 
It  filled  the  British  with  astonishment;  and  the 
Hessians,  whose  name  had  before  inspired  the  people 
with  fear,  ceased  to  be  terrible.  The  prisoners  were 
paraded  through  the  streets  of  Philadelphia  to  prove 
the  reality  of  the  victory,  which  the  friends  of  the 
British  government  had  denied.  The  hopes  of  the 
Americans  were  revived,  and  their  spirits  elevated  j 
they  had  a  clear  proof  that  their  enemies  were  not 
invincible,  and  that  union,  courage,  and  perseverance, 
would  insure  success. 


17 


Battle    Ground    at    Trenton. 


BATTLE  OF  PKINCETON. 


LTHOUGH  General  Cad- 
walader  had  not  been 
able  to  pass  the  Delaware 
at  the  appointed  time,  yet, 
believing  that  General 
Washington  was  still  on 
the  Jersey  side,  on  the 
27th  he  crossed  the  river 
with  fifteen  hundred  men, 
about  two  miles  above  Bristol ;  and  even  after  he  was 
informed  that  General  Washington  had  again  passed 
into  Pennsylvania,  he  proceeded  to  Burlington,  and 
next  day  marched  on  Bordentown,  the  enemy  hastily 
retiring  as  he  advanced. 

The  spirit  of  resistance  and  insurrection  was  again 
fully   awakened    in   Pennsylvania,  and    considerable 


BATTLE    OF    PRINCETON.  199 

numbers  of  the  militia  repaired  to  the  standard  of  the 
commander-in-chief,  who  again  crossed  the  Delaware 
and  marched  to  Trenton,  where,  at  the  beginning  of 
January,  he  found  himself  at  the  head  of  five  thousand 
men. 

The  alarm  was  now  spread  throughout  the  British 
army.  A  strong  detachment,  under  General  Grant, 
marched  to  Princeton ;  and  Earl  Cornwallis,  who  was 
on  the  point  of  sailing  for  England,  was  ordered  to 
leave  New  York,  and  resume  his  command  in  the 
Jerseys. 

On  joining  General  Grant,  Lord  Cornwallis  imme- 
diately marched  against  Trenton.  On  his  approach, 
General  Washington  crossed  a  rivulet  named  the 
Asumpinck,  and  took  post  on  some  high  ground,  with 
the  rivulet  in  his  front.  On  the  advance  of  the 
British  army  on  the  afternoon  of  the  2d  of  January, 
1777,  a  smart  cannonade  ensued,  and  continued  till 
night,  Lord  Cornwallis  intending  to  renew  the  attack 
next  morning;  but  soon  after  midnight  General 
Washington  silently  decamped,  leaving  his  fires  burn- 
ing, his  sentinels  advanced,  and  small  parties  to  guard 
the  fords  of  the  rivulet,  and,  by  a  circuitous  route 
through  Allentown,  proceeded  towards  Princeton. 

It  was  the  most  inclement  season  of  the  year,  but 
the  weather  favoured  his  movement.  For  two  days 
before  it  had  been  warm,  soft,  and  foggy,  and  great 
apprehensions  were  entertained  lest,  by  the  depth  of 
the  roads,  it  should  be  found  impossible  to  transport 
the  baggage  and  artillery  with  the  requisite  celerity ; 
but  about  the  time  the  troops  began  to  move,  one  of 
those  sudden  changes  of  weather  which  are  not  unfre- 


200  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

quent  in  America  happened.  The  wind  shifted  to  the 
northwest,  while  the  council  of  war  which  was  to 
decide  on  their  ulterior  operations  was  sitting.  An 
intense  frost  set  in ;  and  instead  of  being  obliged  to 
struggle  through  a  miry  road,  the  army  marched  as 
on  solid  pavement.  The  American  soldiers  considered 
the  change  of  weather  as  an  interposition  of  Heaven 
in  their  behalf,  and  proceeded  on  their  way  with  alac- 
rity. 

Earl  Cornwallis,  in  his  rapid  march  towards  Tren- 
ton, had  left  three  regiments,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Mawhood,  at  Princeton,  with  orders  to  advance  on 
the  3d  of  the  month  to  Maidenhead,  a  village  about 
half  way  between  Princeton  and  Trenton.  General 
Washington  approached  Princeton  towards  day- 
break, and  shortly  before  that  time  Colonel  Maw- 
hood's  detachment  had  begun  to  advance  towards 
Maidenhead,  by  a  road  at  a  little  distance  from  that 
on  which  the  Americans  were  marchino-.  The  two 

D 

armies  unexpectedly  met,  and  a  smart  engagement 
instantly  ensued.  At  first  the  Americans  were 
thrown  into  some  confusion;  but  General  Wash- 
ington, by  great  personal  exertions,  restored  order, 
and  renewed  the  battle.  Colonel  Mawhood,  with  a 
part  of  his  force,  broke  through  the  American  army, 
and  continued  his  route  to  Maidenhead ;  the  re- 
mainder of  his  detachment,  being  unable  to  advance, 
retreated  by  different  roads  to  Brunswick. 

In  this  encounter  a  considerable  number  of  men 
fell  on  each  side.  The  Americans  lost  General 
Mercer,  whose  death  was  much  lamented  by  his 
countrymen.  Captain  Leslie,  son  of  the  Earl  of 


BATTLE   OF    PRINCETON^  201 

Leven,  was  among  the  slain  on  the  side  of  the 
British ;  and  he  was  buried  with  military  honours  by 
the  Americans,  in  testimony  of  respect  not  to  himself 
merely,  but  to  his  family  also. 

Early  in  the  morning  Earl  Cornwallis  discovered 
that  General  Washington  had  decamped ;  and  soon 
afterwards  the  report  of  the  artillery  in  the  engagement 
with  Colonel  Mawhood  near  Princeton,  convinced  him 
of  the  direction  which  the  American  army  had  taken. 
Alarmed  for  the  safety  of  the  British  stores  at  Bruns- 
wick, he  advanced  rapidly  towards  Princeton.  In  the 
American  army  it  had  indeed  been  proposed  to  make 
a  forced  march  to  Brunswick,  where  all  the  baggage 
of  the  British  army  was  deposited ;  but  the  complete 
exhaustion  of  the  men,  who  had  been  without  rest,  and 
almost  without  food  for  two  days  and  nights,  prevent- 
ed the  adoption  of  the  measure.  General  Washington 
proceeded  towards  Morristown,  and  Lord  Cornwallis 
pressed  on  his  rear ;  but  the  Americans,  on  crossing 
Millstone  river,  broke  down  the  bridge  at  Kingston, 
to  impede  the  progress  of  their  enemies ;  and  there 
the  pursuit  ended.  Both  armies  were  completely  worn 
out,  the  one  being  as  unable  to  pursue  as  the  other 
was  to  retreat.  General  Washington  took  up  a  posi- 
tion at  Morristown,  and  Lord  Cornwallis  reached 
Brunswick,  where  no  small  alarm  had  been  excited  by 
the  advance  of  the  Americans,  and  where  every  exer- 
tion had  been  made  for  the  removal  of  the  baggage, 
and  for  defending  the  place. 

General  Washington  fixed  his  head-quarters  at 
Morristown,  situated  among  hills  of  difficult  access, 
where  he  had  a  fine  country  in  his  rear,  from  which 


202 


REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 


he  could  easily  draw  supplies,  and  was  able  to  retreat 
across  the  Delaware,  if  needful.  Giving  his  troops 
little  repose,  he  over-ran  both  East  and  West  Jersey, 
spread  his  army  over  the  Raritan,  and  penetrated  into 
the  county  of  Essex,  where  he  made  himself  master 
of  the  coast  opposite  Staten  Island.  With  a  greatly 
inferior  army,  by  judicious  movements,  he  wrested 
from  the  British  almost  all  their  conquests  in  the 
Jerseys.  Brunswick  and  Amboy  were  the  only  posts 
which  remained  in  their  hands,  and  even  in  these  they 
were  not  a  little  harassed  and  straitened.  The 
American  detachments  were  in  a  state  of  unwearied 
activity,  frequently  surprising  and  cutting  off  the 
British  advanced  guards,  keeping  them  in  perpetual 
alarm,  and  melting  down  their  numbers  by  a  desultory 
and  indecisive  warfare. 


Washington's   Headquarters   at   Morristown. 


Capture    of   General    Frescott. 


CAPTURE  OF  GENERAL  PRESCOTT. 


HIS  capital  exploit  of  Colonel 
Barton  took  place  on  the  10th 
of  July,  1777.  The  British 
general,  Prescott,  was  com- 
mander of  Rhode  Island,  and 
had  his  head-quarters  on  the 
west  side  of  the  island,  near 
Narraganset  Bay,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the 
shore,  and  at  some  distance  from  any  body  of  troops. 
He  was  but  slightly  guarded,  trusting  chiefly  for 
security  to  the  numerous  cruisers,  and  to  a  guard-ship, 
which  lay  in  a  bay  opposite  his  quarters. 

Colonel  Barton,  at  the  head  of  forty  men,  officers 


204  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR. 

and  volunteers,  passed  by  night  from  Warwick  Neck 
to  Rhode  Island  ;  and  although  they  had  a  passage 
of  ten  miles  by  water,  yet,  by  keeping  near  the  land, 
they  eluded  the  vigilance  of  the  British  ships-of-war 
and  guard-boats  which  surrounded  the  island.  They 
conducted  their  enterprise  with  such  silence  and 
address,  that,  about  midnight,  they  reached  the 
general's  quarters  undiscovered,  secured  the  sentinel, 
surprised  the  general  in  bed,  and,  without  giving  him 
time  to  put  on  his  clothes,  hurried  him  on  board,  with 
one  of  his  aides-de-camp,  and  conveyed  him  safely  to 
Providence.  This  event  was  very  mortifying  to 
General  Prescott,  and  to  the  royal  army;  but  occa- 
sioned much  exultation  among  the  Americans. 
Hitherto  General  Howe  had  absolutely  refused  to 
release  General  Lee,  but  he  soon  agreed  to  exchange 
him  for  General  Prescott;  and  General  Lee  again 
joined  the  American  army. 


La   Fayette   leaving    France. 


BATTLE  OF  BRANDYWINE. 


H  E  commander  -  in  - 
chief,  General  Wash- 
ington, distinctly  un- 
derstood the  nature 
of  the  contest  in  which 
he  was  engaged ;  and, 
sensible  of  the  inferi- 
ority of  his  raw  and 
disorderly  army  to  the 
veteran  troops  under 
Sir  William  Howe,  he 
wished  to  avoid  a  general  engagement  j  but,  aware  of 
the  effect  which  the  fall  of  Philadelphia  would  produce 
on  the  minds  of  the  people,  he  determined  to 

make  every  effort  in  order  to  retard  the  progress  and 

18 


206  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

defeat  the  aim  of  the  royal  army.  Accordingly, 
he  marched  to  meet  General  Howe,  who  from  want 
of  horses,  many  of  which  had  perished  in  the  voyage, 
and  from  other  causes,  was  unable  to  proceed  from  the 
head  of  Elk  before  the  3d  of  September,  1777.  On 
the  advance  of  the  royal  army,  General  Washington 
retreated  across  the  Brandywine,  a  stream  which  falls 
into  a  branch  of  the  Delaware  at  Wilmington.  He  took 
post,  with  his  main  body,  opposite  Chad's  Ford,  where  it 
was  expected  the  British  would  attempt  the  passage  ; 
and  ordered  General  Sullivan,  with  a  detachment,  to 
watch  the  fords  above.  He  sent  General  Maxwell, 
with  about  one  thousand  light  troops,  to  occupy  the 
high  ground  on  the  other  side  of  the  Brandywine,  to 
skirmish  with  the  British,  and  retard  them  in  their 
progress. 

On  the  morning  of  the  llth  of  September,  the 
British  army  advanced  in  two  columns;  the  right, 
under  General  Knyphausen,  marched  straight  to  Chad's 
Ford ;  the  left,  under  Lord  Cornwallis,  accompanied  by 
the  commander-in-chief  and  Generals  Grey,  Grant, 
and  Agnew,  proceeded  by  a  circuitous  route  towards 
the  Forks,  where  the  two  branches  of  the  Brandywine 
unite,  with  a  view  to  turn  the  right  of  the  Americans 
and  gain  their  rear.  General  Knyphausen's  van  soon 
found  itself  opposed  to  the  light  troops  under  General 
Maxwell.  A  smart  conflict  ensued.  General  Knyp- 
hausen reinforced  his  advanced  guard,  and  drove  the 
Americans  across  the  rivulet,  to  shelter  themselves 
under  their  batteries  on  the  north  bank,  and  a  cannon- 
ade was  carried  on  with  the  American  batteries  on 
the  heights  beyond  the  ford. 


BATTLE   OF    BRANDYWINE.  207 

Meanwhile  the  left  wing  of  the  British  crossed  the 
fords  above  the  Forks.  Of  this  movement  General 
Washington  had  early  notice;  but  the  information 
which  he  received  from  different  quarters,  through 
his  raw  and  unpractised  scouts,  was  confused  and 
contradictory,  and  consequently  his  operations  were 
embarrassed.  After  passing  the  fords,  Lord  Corn- 
wallis  took  the  road  to  Dilworth,  which  led  him  on  the 
American  right.  General  Sullivan,  who  had  been 
appointed  to  guard  that  quarter,  occupied  the  heights 
above  Birmingham  church,  his  left  extending  to 
the  Brandy  wine,  his  artillery 'judiciously  placed,  and 
his  right  flank  covered  by  woods.  About  four  in 
the  afternoon  Lord  Cornwallis  formed  the  line  of 
battle  and  began  the  attack:  for  some  time  the 
Americans  sustained  it  with  intrepidity,  but  at  length 
gave  way.  When  General  Washington  heard  the 
firing  in  that  direction,  he  ordered  General  Greene 
with  a  brigade  to  support  General  Sullivan.  Gen- 
eral Greene  marched  four  miles  in  forty-two  minutes, 
but,  on  reaching  the  scene  of  action,  he  found  General 
Sullivan's  division  defeated  and  fleeing  in  confusion. 
He  covered  the  retreat ;  and,  after  some  time,  finding 
an  advantageous  position,  he  renewed  the  battle,  and 
arrested  the  progress  of  the  pursuing  enemy. 

General  Knyphausen,  as  sooft  as  he  heard  the 
firing  of  Lord  Cornwallis's  division,  forced  the  pas- 
sage of  Chad's  Ford,  attacked  the  troops  opposed  to 
him,  and  compelled  them  to  make  a  precipitate 
retreat.  General  Washington,  with  the  part  of  his 
army  which  he  was  able  to  keep  together,  retired, 


208  REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 

with  his  artillery  and  baggage,  to  Chester,  where  he 
halted,  within  eight  miles  of  the  British  army,  till  next 
morning,  when  he  retreated  to  Philadelphia.  Night, 
and  the  exhaustion  of  the  British  troops,  saved  the 
discomfited  Americans  from  pursuit. 

In  Philadelphia  th'e  American  commander-in-chief 
remained  two  days,  collecting  his  scattered  troops, 
replacing  the  stores  lost  in  the  battle,  and  making 
arrangements  for  his  future  movements.  On  the 
third  day  after  the  engagement  he  marched  up  the 
north  side  of  the  Schuylkill,  crossed  it  at  Swede's 
Ford,  and  proceeded  towards  Lancaster. 

In  the  battle  of  the  Brandywine  the  Americans 
suffered  considerable  loss,  having  about  three  hundred 
men  killed,  six  hundred  wounded,  and  four  hundred 
taken  prisoners.  They  also  lost  ten  small  field-pieces 
and  a  howitzer.  The  loss  of  the  British  was  much 
less,  not  exceeding  five  or  six  hundred  killed  and 
wounded.  In  the  battle  several  foreign  officers  of 
distinction  served  in  the  American  army:  among 
these  was  the  celebrated  Marquis  de  la  Fayette ;  he 
was  only  about  twenty  years  of  age,  and,  animated 
by  a  youthful  and  enthusiastic  love  of  liberty,  had 
quitted  his  country,  a  plentiful  fortune,  and  all  the 
endearments  of  polished  society,  to  fight  under  the 
banners  of  the  infant  republic  at  the  most  gloomy 
period  of  the  contest.  At  his  own  expense  he  pur- 
chased and  fitted  out  a  vessel  to  convey  him  to  the 
American  continent,  and  sailed,  notwithstanding  a 
prohibition  of  the  French  government,  which  did  not 
then  deem  it  expedient  to  throw  off  the  mask.  This 


BATTLE    OF    BRANDYWINE. 


209 


battle  was  his  first  military  service  in  the  American 
cause,  and  in  it  he  received  a  wound  in  the  leg,  but 
did  not  leave  the  field.  Some  other  French  officers 
were  in  the  battle  on  the  same  side,  and  also  Count 
Pulaski,  a  Polish  nobleman. 


Costume    of    British    Nuvai    Uiuccr,    1777. 


18 


General    LaFayette. 


BATTLE  OF  GERMANTOWN. 


N  the  evening  after  the 
battle  of  Brandywine, 
General  Howe  sent  a 
party  to  Wilmington, 
who  seized  in  bed  Mr. 
M'Kinlay,  governor  of 
the  state  of  Delaware, 
and  took  a  shallop  lying 
in  the  rivulet  loaded 
with  the  rich  effects  of 


BATTLE    OF    GERMANTOWft.  211 

some  of  the  inhabitants,  together  with  the  public 
records  of  the  county,  and  other  valuable  and  im- 
portant property. 

General  Wayne,  with  a  detachment  of  fifteen 
hundred  men,  had  taken  post  in  the  woods  on  the  left 
of  the  British  army,  with  the  intention 'of  harassing 
it  on  its  inarch.  On  the  evening  of  the  20th  of 
September,  General  Grey  was  despatched  to  surprise 
him,  and  successfully  executed  the  enterprise ;  killing 
or  wounding,  chiefly  with  the  bayonet,  about  three 
hundred  men,  taking  nearly  one  hundred  prisoners, 
and  making  himself  master  of  all  their  baggage. 
General  Grey  had  only  one  captain  and  three  privates 
killed,  and  four  wounded. 

On  the  evening  of  the  18th,  Congress  left  Phila- 
delphia for  the  second  time,  and  proceeded  first 
to  Lancaster,  and  afterwards  to  York.  On  the 
afternoon  of  the  22d,  and  early  on  the  23d  of 
September,  Sir  William  Howe,  contrary  to  the  ex- 
pectation of  the  American  commander-in-chief,  crossed 
the  Schuylkill  at  Fatland  and  Gordon's  Ford.  The 
main  body  of  his  army  encamped  at  Germantown,  a 
long  village,  seven  miles  from  Philadelphia ;  and,  on 
the  26th,  with  a  detachment  of  his  troops,  he  took 
peaceable  possession  of  the  city,  where  he  was  cor- 
dially received  by  the  Quakers  and  other  royalists. 
During  these  movements,  both  armies  were  much 
incommoded  by  cold  and  heavy  rains. 

On  receiving  information  of  the  success  of  the  royal 
army  under  his  brother  at  Brandywine,  Admiral  Lord 
Howe  left  the  Chesapeake  and  steered  for  the  Dela- 
ware, where  he  arrived  on  the  8th  of  October.  As 


212  REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 

soon  as  General  Howe  had  gained  possession  of  Phil- 
adelphia, he  began  to  clear  the  course  of  the  river, 
in  order  to  open  a  free  communication  with  the  fleet. 

The  Americans  had  laboured  assiduously  to  obstruct 
the  navigation  of  the  Delaware ;  and,  for  that  pur- 
pose, had  sunrk  three  rows  of  chevaux-de-frise,  formed 
of  large  beams  of  timber  bolted  together,  with  strong 
projecting  iron  spikes,  across  the  channel,  a  little  below 
the  place  where  the  Schuylkill  falls  into  the  Dela- 
ware. The  upper  and  lower  rows  were  commanded 
by  fortifications  on  the  banks  and  islands  of  the  river, 
and  by  floating  batteries. 

While  the  detachments  employed  in  assisting  to 
clear  the  course  of  the  river  weakened  the  royal  army 
at  Germantown,  General  Washington,  who  lay  en- 
camped at  Skippach  Creek,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Schuylkill,  about  seventeen  miles  from  Germantown, 
meditated  an  attack  upon  it.  Germantown  consisted 
of  one  street  about  two  miles  long ;  the  line  of  the 
British  encampment  bisected  the  village  almost  at 
right  angles,  and  had  its  left  covered  by  the  Schuylkill. 
General  Washington  having  been  reinforced  by  fif- 
teen hundred  troops  from  Peekskill,  and  one  thousand 
Virginian  militia,  marched  from  Skippach  Creek  on 
the  evening  of  the  3d  of  October,  and  at  dawn  of 
day  next  morning  attacked  the  royal  army.  After  a 
smart  conflict  he  drove  in  the  advanced  guard,  which 
was  stationed  at  the  head  of  the  village,  and,  with  his 
army  divided  into  five  columns,  prosecuted  the  attack ; 
but  Lieutenant-Colonel  Musgrave  of  the  40th  regi- 
ment, which  had  been  driven  in,  and  who  had  been 
able  to  keep  five  companies  of  the  regiment  together, 


BATTLE    OF    GERMANTOWN.  215 

threw  himself  into  a  large  stone  house  in  the  village, 

^y  O      ' 

which  stood  in  front  of  the  main  column  of  the  Ameri- 
cans, and  there  almost  a  half  of  General  Washington's 
army  was  detained  for  a  considerable  time.  Instead 
of  masking  the  house  with  a  sufficient  force,  and 
advancing  rapidly  with  their  main  body,  the  Ameri- 
cans attacked  the  house,  which  was  obstinately 
defended.  This  saved  the  British  army ;  for  the 
critical  moment  was  lost  in  fruitless  attempts  on 
the  house  j  the  royal  troops  had  time  to  get  under 
arms,  and  be  in  readiness  to  resist  or  attack  as  cir- 
cumstances required.  General  Grey  came  to  the 
assistance  of  Colonel  Musgrave ;  the  engagement  for 
some  time  was  general  and  warm ;  at  length  the  Ameri- 
cans began  to  give  way,  and  effected  a  retreat  with 
all  their  artillery.  The  morning  was  very  foggy,  a 
circumstance  which  had  prevented  the  Americans  from 
combining  and  conducting  their  operations  as  they 
otherwise  might  have  done,  but  which  now  favoured 
their  retreat  by  concealing  their  movements. 

In  this  engagement  the  British  had  six  hundred 
men  killed  or  wounded ;  among  the  slain  were  Briga- 
dier-General Agnew  and  Colonel  Bird,  officers  of 
distinguished  reputation.  The  Americans  lost  an 
equal  number  in  killed  and  wounded,  besides  four  hun- 
dred who  were  taken  prisoners.  General  Nash,  of 
North  Carolina,  was  among  those  who  were  killed. 
After  the  battle,  General  Washington  returned  to  his 

7  O 

encampment  at  Skippach  Creek. 


Battle  of  Red-Bank. 


BATTLE  OF  KED-BANK. 


THE  British   army   had   been 
J 
successful   in   repulsing   the 

Americans,  yet  their  situa- 
tion was  not  comfortable; 
nor  could  they  easily  main- 
tain themselves  in  Pennsyl- 
vania unless  the  navigation  of  the  Delaware  were 
opened,  and  a  free  communication  established  between 
the  fleet  and  army.  The  upper  line  of  chevaux-de- 
frise  was  protected  by  a  work  named  Fort  Mifflin, 
erected  on  a  marshy  island  in  the  Delaware,  called 


BATTLE    OF   RED-BANK. 

Mud  Island,  formed  by  an  accumulation  of  sand  and 
vegetable  mould  near  the  Pennsylvania  bank  of  the 
river,  and  by  a  redoubt  called  Red-Bank,  on  the  Jersey 
side.  At  a  small  distance  below  Mud  Island,  and 
nearly  in  a  line  with  it,  are  two  others,  named  Pro- 
vince and  Hog's  Islands ;  between  these  and  the  Penn- 
sylvania bank  of  the  river  was  a  narrow  channel,  of 
sufficient  depth  to  admit  ships  of  moderate  draught  of 
water.  The  reduction  of  Forts  Mifflin  and  Red-Bank, 
and  the  opening  of  the  Delaware,  were  of  essential 
importance  to  the  British  army  in  the  occupation  of 
Philadelphia.  In  order,  therefore,  that  he  might  be  able 
more  conveniently  to  assist  in  those  operations,  General 
Howe,  on  the  19th  of  October,  withdrew  his  army  from 
Germantown  and  encamped  in  the  vicinity  of  Phila- 
delphia. 

He  despatched  Colonel  Count  Donop,  a  German 
officer,  with  three  battalions  of  Hessian  grenadiers, 
the  regiment  of  Mirbach,  and  some  light  infantry,  to 
reduce  Red-Bank.  This  detachment  crossed  the 
Delaware  at  Philadelphia  on  the  evening  of  the  21st 
of  October,  and  next  afternoon  reached  the  place  of 
its  destination.  Count  Donop  summoned  the  fort  to 
surrender  j  but  Colonel  Christopher  Greene,  of  Rhode 
Island,  who  commanded  in  the  redoubt,  answered  that 
he  would  defend  his  post  to  the  last  extremity.  Count 
Donop  immediately  led  his  troops  to  the  assault,  ad- 
vancing under  a  close  fire  from  the  fort,  and  from  the 
American  vessels-of-war  and  floating  batteries  on  the 
river ;  he  forced  an  extensive  and  unfinished  outwork, 
but  could  make  no  impression  on  the  redoubt.  The 
count  was  mortally  wounded ;  the  second  in  command 
19 


218  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

also  was  disabled ;  and,  after  a  desperate  conflict  and 
severe  loss,  the  assailants  were  compelled  to  retreat 
under  a  fire  similar  to  that  which  had  met  them  in 
their  advance.  Colonel  Donop  was  made  prisoner, 
and  soon  died  of  his  wounds. 

The  disaster  did  not  terminate  here.  That  part  of 
the  fleet  which  co-operated  in  the  attack  was  equally 
unfortunate.  The  Augusta,  Roebuck,  Liverpool,  Pearl, 
and  Merlin,  vessels -of- war,  had  passed  through  an 
opening  in  the  lower  line  of  chevaux-de-frise ;  and  on 
the  commencement  of  Count  Donop's  attack,  moved 
up  the  river  with  the  flowing  tide.  But  the  artificial 
obstructions  had  altered  the  course  of  the  channel, 
and  raised  sand-banks  where  none  existed  before. 
Hence  the  Augusta  and  Merlin  grounded  a  little  below 
the  second  row  of  chevaux-de-frise.  At  the  return 
of  the  tide  every  exertion  was  made  to  get  them  off, 
but  in  vain.  In  the  morning  the  Americans,  perceiv- 
ing their  condition,  began  to  fire  upon  them,  and  sent 
fireships  against  them.  The  Augusta  caught  fire; 
and,  the  flames  spreading  rapidly,  it  was  with  the  ut- 
most difficulty  that  the  crew  were  got  out  of  her. 
The  second  lieutenant,  chaplain,  gunner,  and  some 
seamen  perished  in  the  flames ;  but  the  greater  part 
of  the  crew  was  saved.  The  Merlin  was  abandoned 
and  destroyed. 


Encampment   at   Valley    Forge. 


ATTACK  ON  FORT  MIFFLIN--RETIREMENT  OF 
THE  ARMY  TO  VALLEY  FORGE. 


OTWITHSTANDING  these  mis- 
fortunes, the  operations  requisite 
for  reducing  the  forts  on  the  river 

o 

were  carried  on  with  great  ac- 
tivity. Batteries  were  erected 
on  the  Pennsylvania  bank  oppo- 
site Mud  Island;  but  from  the 
difficulty  of  constructing  works 
on  marshy  ground,  and  of  transporting  heavy  artillery 
through  swamps,  much  time  was  consumed  before 
they  could  be  got  ready  to  act  with  effect.  The 
British  also  took  possession  of  Province  Island ;  and, 
although  it  was  almost  wholly  overflowed,  erected 
works  upon  it. 


220  REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 

On  the  15th  of  November,  everything  was  ready 
for  a  grand  attack  on  Fort  Mifflin.  The  Vigilant 
armed  ship  and  a  hulk,  both  mounted  with  heavy 
cannon,  passed  up  the  strait  between  Hog  and  Pro- 
vince islands  and  the  Pennsylvania  bank,  in  order  to 
take  their  station  opposite  the  weakest  part  of  the 
fort.  The  Isis,  Somerset,  Roebuck,  and  several 
frigates,  sailed  up  the  main  channel,  as  far  as  the 
second  line  of  chevaux-de-frise  would  permit  them, 
and  placed  themselves  in  front  of  the  work. 

The  little  garrison  of  Fort  Mifflin,  not  exceeding 
three  hundred  men,  had  greatly  exerted  themselves  in 
opposing  and  retarding  the  operations  of  the  British 
fleet  and  army  against  them;  and  in  this  desperate 
crisis  their  courage  did  not  forsake  them.  A  terrible 
cannonade  against  Fort  Mifflin  was  begun  and  carried 
on  by  the  British  batteries  and  shipping;  and  was 
answered  by  the  fort,  by  the  American  galleys  and 
floating  batteries  on  the  river,  and  by  their  works  on 
the  Jersey  bank.  In  the  course  of  the  day  the  fort 
was  in  a  great  measure  demolished,  and  many  of  the 
guns  dismounted.  The  garrison,  finding  their  post 
no  longer  tenable,  retired,  by  means  of  their  shipping, 
during  the  night.  Two  days  afterwards,  the  post 
at  Red-Bank  was  evacuated  also.  Lord  Cornwallis 
marched  against  it ;  but  the  garrison  retreated  before 
his  arrival. 

The  American  shipping  in  the  river,  being  now 
left  unprotected,  retired  up  the  stream :  part  of  it,  by 
keeping  close  to  the  Jersey  side,  passed  the  batteries 
at  Philadelphia  during  the  night,  and  escaped;  the 
rest  was  set  on  fire,  and  abandoned.  Even  the  part 


*6l 


WHITE    MARSH.  223 

of  it,  however,  which  escaped  at  this  time,  was  after- 
wards destroyed.  Thus  the  navigation  of  the  Dela- 
ware was  opened,  and  a  free  communication  established 
between  the  fleet  and  army ;  but  the  defence  of  the 
river  was  so  obstinate,  that  a  considerable  part  of  the 
campaign  was  spent  in  clearing  it. 

General  Washington  having  received  a  reinforce- 
ment from  the  northern  army,  after  the  termination 
of  the  campaign  in  that  quarter,  left  his  strong  camp 
at  Skippach  Creek,  and,  advancing  nearer  the  British, 
occupied  an  advantageous  position  at  White  Marsh, 
fourteen  miles  from  Philadelphia.  He  had  a  valley 
and  rivulet  in  front,  and  his  right  was  protected  by 
an  abattis,  or  fence  of  trees  cut  down,  with  their  top 
branches  pointed  and  turned  outwards. 

Sir  William  Howe  thinking  that  General  Wash- 
ington, encouraged  by  his  reinforcements,  would 
hazard  a  battle  for  the  recovery  of  the  capital  of 
Pennsylvania,  or  that  a  successful  attack  might  be 
made  on  his  position,  marched  from  Philadelphia  on 
the  evening  of  the  4th  of  December,  and  next  morning 
took  post  on  Chestnut  Hill,  in  front  of  the  right  wing 
of  the  American  army.  During  the  two  succeeding 
days,  General  Howe  made  several  movements  in  front 
of  Washington's  encampment  and  some  skirmishing 
ensued.  But  General  Washington  remained  within 
his  lines ;  and  Sir  William  Howe,  deeming  it  unad- 
visable  to  attack  him  there,  and  seeing  no  probability 
of  being  able  to  provoke  him  to  engage  on  more 
equal  terms,  returned  with  his  army,  on  the  8th  of 
December,  to  Philadelphia.  At  that  time  the  two 
armies  were  nearly  equal  in  point  of  numerical  force, 


224 


REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 


each  consisting  of  upwards  of  fourteen  thousand  men. 
Soon  afterwards  General  Washington  quitted  White 
Marsh,  crossed  the  Schuylkill,  and  took  post  at 
Valley  Forge,  where  he  spent  the  winter,  about 
twenty-six  miles  from  Philadelphia. 

The  sufferings  of  the  army  at  Valley  Forge  were 
dreadful  beyond  description.  Quartered  in  wretched 
tents,  without  clothing  suitable  for  the  inclement 
season,  and  without  shoes,  these  heroic  men  bore  all 
with  a  patience  and  courage  which  never  ceased  to 
command  the  eulogies  of  their  countrymen.  The 
example  and  exhortations  of  Washington  were  in- 
cessantly exerted  to  keep  up  their  spirits;  and  the 
greatness  of  the  cause  for  which  they  were  suffering, 
made  them  endure  all  without  a  murmur.  In  fact, 
the  army  was  almost  defenceless  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  a  powerful  enemy ;  but  Providence  destined  them 
to  rise  from  the  clutches  of  the  oppressor,  and  still 
achieve  triumphs  for  the  cause  of  liberty. 


Battle    of   Bennington. 


BATTLE  OF  BENNINGTON. 


HE  advance  of  General  Bur- 
goyne's  army  from  Canada 
towards  New  York,  which 
took  place  in  the  summer  of 
1777,  threw  the  whole  coun- 
try into  the  most  vivid 
alarm.  When  he  had  cap- 
tured Fort  Ticonderoga,  and 


228  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

advanced  as  far  as  Fort  Edward,  he  received  a  sudden 
check  in  an  attempt  to  supply  his  army  with  provi- 
sions. 

It  was  well  known  that  the  American  army  receiv- 
ed live  cattle  from  New  England,  which  were  collected 
at  Bennington,  twenty-four  miles  east  from  the 
Hudson,  where  a  large  deposit  of  carriages,  corn, 
flour,  and  other  necessaries,  had  been  made.  For 
this  purpose  he  moved  down  the  east  side  of  the  Hud- 
son, and  encamped  nearly  opposite  Saratoga,  which 
place  the  American  army  left  on  the  15th  of  August, 
and  retreated  to  the  confluence  of  the  Mohawk  and 
Hudson  rivers.  He  sent  his  van  across  the  river  by 
a  bridge  of  boats  ;  and  at  the  same  time  despatched 
Colonel  Baum,  a  German  officer,  with  five  hundred 
men,  partly  cavalry,  two  pieces  of  artillery,  and  one 
hundred  Indians,  to  surprise  Bennington. 

General  Stark,  with  the  New  Hampshire  militia, 
four  hundred  strong,  happened  to  be  in  that  vicinity, 
on  his  way  to  join  General  Schuyler.  He  heard 
first  of  the  approach  of  the  Indians,  and  soon  after- 
wards was  informed  that  they  were  supported  by  a 
regular  force.  He  collected  his  brigade,  sent  ex- 
presses to  the  neighbouring  militia  to  join  him,  and 
also  to  Colonel  Warner's  regiment  at  Manchester. 
On  the  morning  of  the  14th  of  August,  he  marched 
against  the  enemy  at  the  head  of  seven  hundred  men ; 
and  sent  Colonel  Gregg,  with  two  hundred  men,  to 
skirmish  in  their  front  and  retard  their  progress.  He 
drew  up  his  men  in  order  of  battle ;  but,  on  coming  in 
sight  of  him,  Baum  halted  on  advantageous  ground  j 
sent  an  express  to  General  Burgoyne  informing  him 


BATTLE   OF    BENNINGTON.  229 

of  his  situation;  and  fortified  himself  as  "well  as  cir- 
cumstances would  permit. 

Some  small  skirmishing  parties  of  the  Americans 
killed  several  Germans,  and  two  Indian  chiefs,  without 
sustaining  any  loss;  and  this  slight  success  not  a 
little  elated  them.  In  a  council  of  war,  it  was  resolved 
to  attack  Baum  next  day;  but  next  day  it  rained 
incessantly,  and  the  attack  could  not  be  made,  although 
there  was  some  skirmishing. 

On  the  morning  of  the  16th,  Stark,  having  received 
some  reinforcements,  sent  detachments  by  the  right 
and  left  of  the  enemy,  with  orders  to  unite  in  their 
rear,  and  begin  the  attack  in  that  quarter.  But  before 
they  met,  the  Indians  retreated  between  the  columns, 
and,  receiving  a.  fire  as  they  passed,  sustained  some 
loss.  The  detachments,  according  to  orders,  began 
the  attack  on  the  rear  of  the  enemy,  and  were  assisted 
by  Stark,  who  instantly  advanced  to  the  charge  in 
front.  Baum  made  a  brave  defence ;  the  battle  lasted 
two  hours,  during  which  he  was  furiously  assailed  on 
every  side  by  an  incessant  discharge  of  musketry.  He 
was  mortally  wounded ;  his  troops  were  overpowered ;  a 
few  of  them  escaped  into  the  woods  and  fled,  pursued 
by  the  Americans;  the  rest  were  killed  or  taken 
prisoners.  Thus,  without  artillery,  with  old  rusty  fire- 
locks, and  with  scarcely  a  bayonet,  these  American 
militia  entirely  defeated  five  hundred  British  veterans, 
well  armed,  provided  with  two  pieces  of  artillery,  and 
defended  by  breastworks. 

After  the  victory  the  greater  part  of  the  militia  dis- 
persed in  quest  of  booty,  and  their  avidity  for  spoil 
nearly  proved  fatal  to  them ;  for,  on  receiving  Baum's 
20 


230  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

• 

express,  General  Burgoyne  ordered  Colonel  Brehman, 
who  had  before  been  sent  forward  to  Batten  Hill  for 
the  purpose,  to  march  to  the  assistance  of  his  country- 
men with  the  Brunswick  grenadiers,  light  infantry,  and 
chasseurs,  amounting  to  five  hundred  men.  Colonel 
Brehman  set  out  at  eight  in  the  morning  of  the  15th; 
but  the  roads  were  rendered  almost  impassable  by 
incessant  rains ;  and,  although  he  marched  with  the 
utmost  diligence,  yet  it  was  four  the  next  afternoon 
before  he  reached  the  vicinity  of  the  place  where  his 
countrymen  had  been  defeated.  The  first  notice 
which  he  received  of  Baum's  disaster  was  from  the 
fugitives  whom  he  met.  He  easily  repulsed  the  few 
militia  who  were  in  pursuit  of  them ;  and,  from  the 
scattered  state  of  Stark's  troops,  had  the  prospect  of 
being  able  to  make  himself  master  of  the  stores,  which 
were  the  great  object  of  the  expedition.  But,  at  that 
critical  moment,  Colonel  Warner's  regiment  of  conti- 
nentals arrived,  and  instantly  engaged  Brehman. 
The  firing  reassembled  the  scattered  militia,  who 
joined  in  the  battle  as  they  came  up.  Colonel  Breh- 
man maintained  the  conflict  till  dark;  when,  aban- 
doning his  artillery  and  baggage,  he  retreated,  and, 
escaping  under  cover  of  night,  with  the  shattered 
remnant  of  his  detachment,  regained  the  camp. 

In  these  engagements  the  Americans  took  four 
brass  field-pieces,  about  one  thousand  muskets  (a 
most  seasonable  supply  to  the  ill-armed  militia),  nine 
hundred  swords,  and  four  baggage-wagons.  Ex- 
clusive of  Canadians  and  other  loyalists,  the  loss  of 
the  royal  army  could  not  be  less  than  seven  hundred 
men  in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  although 


BATTLE    OFt  BENNINGTON.  231 

General  Burgoyne  stated  it  at  only  about  four 
hundred.  The  Americans  admitted  the  loss  of  about 
one  hundred  in  killed  and  wounded ;  but  this  was 
certainly  under  the  truth. 

This  was  the  first  check  which  General  Bur- 
goyne's  army  had  met  with,  and  it  was  a  severe  one, 
and  had  a  fatal  influence  on  the  campaign.  The  loss 
of  a  few  hundred  men  was  nothing  compared  with 
the  effects  which  it  produced  upon  the  minds  of  the 
people :  it  greatly  elated  them,  and  gave  the  militia, 
who  had  been  much  dispirited  by  the  late  defeats, 
confidence  in  themselves,  and  encouraged  them  to 
hasten  to  the  army  in  great  numbers,  in  order  to  con- 
summate the  work  which  they  had  begun.  Before 
the  events  in  the  vicinity  of  Bennington,  dejection 
and  alarm  pervaded  the  northern  provinces ;  but 
those  events  dispelled  the  gloom,  infused  spirit  and 
vigour  into  the  militia,  and  gave  a  new  aspect  to 
affairs  on  the  Hudson. 


Murder    of    Miss    M'Crea. 


MURDER  OF  MISS  M'CREA. 

THIS  thrilling  event  has  been 
variously  related  by  various  au- 
thorities. The  following  ac- 
count, from  Dr.  Thacher's  Mili- 
tary Journal,  has  .the  advantage 
of  coming  from  an  intelligent 
person  who  was  near  the  scene 
4  of  action  at  the  time. 


MURDER    OF    MISS   M'CREA.  233 

General  Gates  has  issued  a  proclamation  to 
counteract  any  influence  which  Burgoyne's  sangui- 
nary manifesto  might  have  produced,  interdicting  all 
communication  with  the  royal  army,  and  endeavour- 
ing to  calm  the  fears  of  the  inhabitants,  by  promising 
them  all  the  protection  in  his  power.  Burgoyne's 
manifesto,  however,  denouncing  fire  and  sword,  in- 
stead of  alarming  into  submission,  excites  universal 
indignation  and  contempt ;  instead  of  conciliating, 
and  increasing  the  number  of  his  friends,  serves  only 
to  exasperate  and  augment  our  means  of  resistance 
and  opposition  to  his  views.  It  was  not  long,  indeed, 
before  some  innocent  persons  were  made  victims  of 
savage  barbarity,  by  means  of  the  tomahawk  and 
scalping-knife,  in  the  hands  of  the  barbarians  under 
his  command.  Among  the  first  of  these  victims  was 
Miss  Jenny  M'Crea,  who  was  murdered  in  a  manner 
extremely  shocking  to  the  feelings  of  humanity.  The 
father  of  Miss  M'Crea  was  friendly  towards  the 
royalists,  and  the  young  lady  was  engaged  to  marry 
a  refugee  officer  in  Burgoyne's  army,  by  the  name  of 
Jones,  and  awaited  his  arrival  in  order  to  have  the 
marriage  consummated.  When  our  army  retreated 
from  Fort  Edward,  Miss  M'Crea  had  the  indiscretion 
to  remain  behind,  probably  with  the  expectation  of 
meeting  her  lover.  The  Indians,  however,  soon  made 
her  their  prisoner ;  and  on  their  return  towards  Bur- 
goyne's camp,  a  quarrel  arose  to  decide  who  should 
hold  possession  of  the  fair  prize.  During  the  con- 
troversy, one  of  the  monsters  struck  his  tomahawk 

•>  7 

into  her  skull,  and  immediately  stripped  off  her  scalp. 
General  Gates  complains  to  General  Burgoyne  of 

20* 


234  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

this  and  other  outrages  in  the  following  words: — 
"A  young  lady,  Miss  M'Crea,  lovely  to  the  sight,  of 
virtuous  character  and  amiable  disposition,  engaged 
to  be  married  to  an  officer  in  your  army,  was,  with 
other  women  and  children,  taken  out  of  a  house  near 
Fort  Edward,  carried  into  the  woods,  and  there 
scalped  and  mangled  in  the  most  shocking  manner. 
Two  parents,  \\ith  their  six  children,  were  all  treated 
with  the  same  inhumanity,  while  quietly  residing  in 
their  own  happy  and  peaceful  dwellings.  The 
miserable  fate  of  Miss  M'Crea  was  peculiarly  aggra- 
vated by  her  being  dressed  to  receive  her  promised 
husband — but  met  her  murderer,  employed  by  you. 
Upwards  of  one  hundred  men,  women,  and  children, 
have  perished  by  the  hands  of  ruffians,  to  whom  it  is 
asserted  you  have  paid  the  price  of  blood."  This 
appears  since  to  be  rather  an  exaggerated  charge. 
In  General  Burgoyne's  reply,  he  says : — "  The  fact 
was  no  premeditated  barbarity ;  on  the  contrary,  two 
chiefs  who  had  brought  Miss  M'Crea  off,  for  the 
purpose  of  security,  not  of  violence  to  her  person, 
disputed  which  should  be  her  guard,  and  in  a  fit  of 
savage  passion  in  the  one  from  whose  hands  she  was 
snatched,  the  unhappy  woman  became  the  victim." 
He  expresses  sorrow  and  regret  for  the  tragic  scenes, 
and  further  states  that  he  obliged  the  Indians  to  give 
up  the  murderer  into  his  hands,  and  he  certainly 
should  have  suffered  an  ignominious  death,  had  he 
not  been  convinced  that  a  pardon  on  his  terms  would 
be  more  efficacious  than  an  execution,  to  prevent 
further  mischief.  That  he  paid  for  scalps  he  denies ; 
but  the  Indians  were  to  receive  compensation  for 


MURDER   OF    MISS    M'CREA.  235 

prisoners.  This  cruel  conduct  of  the  royalists  is 
contemplated  with  horror  and  detestation  by  all 
ranks  of  people,  except  their  friends  and  adherents. 
It  is  impossible  not  to  detest  that  cause  and  that 
army  which  accepts  the  aid  of  savage  auxiliaries,  and 
encourages  them  in  inhuman  slaughter  and  bloodshed. 
This  measure  was  certainly  countenanced  and  recom- 
mended by  the  king  and  his  ministers,  and  General 
Burgoyne  acknowledges  that  he  allowed  the  Indians 
to  take  the  scalps  of  the  dead.  It  must  be  painful 
for  the  impartial  historian  to  record,  and  it  will  require 
the  strongest  faith  of  the  reader  in  future  ages  to 
credit,  the  disgraceful  story,  that  Britons,  who  pride 
themselves  on  their  civility  and  humanity,  employed 
the  wild  savages  of  the  wilderness  in  a  war  against  a 
people  united  to  them  by  the  ties  of  consanguinity ; 
that  age,  and  the  helpless  invalid,  women,  and 
children  at  the  breast,  are  all  alike  subjected  to  the 
merciless  fury  of  barbarians;  that  British  generals 
should  be  so  regardless  of  the  dignity  of  their  station, 
and  the  voice  of  humanity,  as  to  receive  from  the 
hands  of  these  ferocious  wretches  the  scalps  torn 
from  the  skulls  of  innocent  persons ! 


General   Schuyler. 


BATTLE  OF  STILLWATER. 

ENERAL    GATES,   who    suc- 
ceeded General  Schuyler  in  the 
command  of  the  army,  having 
been  reinforced  by  all  the  fresh 
continental  troops  destined   for 
the    northern    department,  and 
also  by   considerable  bodies  of 
militia.,  left  the    strong  position  which    General 
Schuyler    had   taken    at   the  confluence  of  the 
Mohawk  and  Hudson,  eight  miles  above  Albany, 
proceeded   sixteen  miles   up   the   river   towards   the 


BATTLE    OF    STILLWATER.  239 

enemy,  and  formed  a  strong  camp  near  Stillwater. 
The  two  armies  were  only  about  twelve  miles  distant 
from  each  other ;  but  the  bridges  between  them  were 
broken  down,  the  roads  were  bad,  and  the  country  was 
covered  with  woods;  consequently  the  progress  of 
the  British  army,  encumbered  by  its  fine  train  of 
artillery  and  numerous  wagons,  was  slow,  and  it  was 
attended  by  some  skirmishing. 

On  the  evening  of  the  17th  of  September,  1777, 
General  Burgoyne  encamped  within  four  miles  of  the 
American  army,  and  spent  the  next  day  in  repairing 
the  bridges  between  the  two  camps,  which  he  accom- 
plished with  some  loss.  About  mid-day,  on  the  19th 
of  September,  he  put  himself  at  the  head  of  the  right 
wing  of  his  army,  and  advanced  through  the  woods 
towards  the  left  of  the  American  camp:  General 
Frazer  and  Colonel  Brehman,  with  the  grenadiers  and 
light  infantry,  covered  his  right  flank ;  and  the  Indians, 
loyalists,  and  Canadians  proceeded  in  front.  The  left 
wing  and  artillery,  commanded  by  Generals  Philips 
and  Reidesel,  proceeded  along  the  great  road  near  the 
river. 

The  nature  of  the  ground  prevented  the  contending 
armies  from  observing  the  movements  of  each  other ; 
but  General  Gates,  whose  scouts  were  in  constant 
activity,  was  soon  informed  of  the  advance  of  the 
British  army.  He  detached  Colonel  Morgan,  a  bold 
and  active  partisan,  with  his  riflemen,  to  observe 
the  motions  and  impede  the  progress  of  the  enemy. 
Morgan  soon  met  the  advanced  parties  in  front  of  the 
British  ri^ht  wing,  and  drove  them  back.  General 
Burgoyne  supported  them  by  a  strong  detachment; 


240  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

and,  after  a  severe  conflict,  Morgan,  in  his  turn,  was 
compelled  to  give  way.  But  General  Gates  rein- 
forced him,  and  the  engagement  became  more  general. 
The  Americans  attempted  to  turn  the  right  flank  of 
the  British  army,  with  the  view  of  attacking  it  in  the 
rear ;  but  being  opposed  by  Frazer  and  Brehman,  they 
made  a  rapid  movement,  and  commenced  a  furious 
attack  on  the  left  of  the  British  right  wing.  The 
combatants  were  reinforced ;  and  between  three  and 
four  in  the  afternoon,  General  Arnold,  with  nine  conti- 
nental regiments  and  Morgan's  riflemen,  was  closely 
engaged  with  the  whole  right  wing  of  the  British 
army.  Both  parties  fought  with  the  most  determined 
courage;  and  the  battle  ended  only  with  the  day. 
When  it  became  dark,  the  Americans  withdrew  to 
their  camp ;  and  the  royal  troops  lay  all  night  on  their 
arms  on  the  field  of  battle.  On  hearing  the  firing  at 
the  beginning  of  the  engagement,  General  Philips  with 
some  artillery  forced  his  way  through  the  woods,  and 
rendered  essential  service. 

In  this  battle,  in  which  each  party  had  nearly  three 
thousand  men  actually  engaged,  the  British  lost 
upwards  of  five  hundred  in  killed  and  wounded,  and 
the  Americans  about  four  hundred  men.  Night 
separated  the  combatants:  each  side  claimed  the 
victory,  and  each  believed  that  with  a  part  only  of  its 
own  force,  it  had  beaten  the  whole  of  the  hostile  army. 
But  although  neither  army  was  defeated,  it  was  evident 
who  had  gained  the  advantage ;  General  Burgoyne  had 
failed  in  the  attempt  to  dislodge  his  enemy,  and  his  pro- 
gress was  arrested.  His  communication  with  the 
lakes  was  cut  off,  and  his  resources  were  daily  failing ; 


BATTLE    OF    STILLWATER. 


241 


while  the  Americans  had  the  same  opportunities  of 
gaining  supplies  as  before,  and  their  strength  was  still 
increasing  by  the  arrival  of  fresh  troops.  In  such 
circumstances,  to  fight  without  a  decisive  victory  was 
to  the  British  nearly  equivalent  to  a  defeat;  and  to 
fight  without  being  beaten  was  to  the  Americans  pro- 
ductive of  many  of  the  consequences  of  victory. 

Accordingly,  the  news  of  the  battle  was  received 
with  joy  and  exultation  throughout  the  United  States, 
and  the  ruin  of  the  invading  army  was  confidently 
anticipated.  The  militia  were  encouraged  to  take 
the  field,  and  assist  in  consummating  the  work 
so  auspiciously  begun.  At  that  time  the  army  under 
the  command  of  General  Gates  did  not  much  exceed 
seven  thousand  men ;  but  it  was  soon  considerably 
increased. 


BATTLE  OF  BEMIS'  HEIGHTS,  AND  RETREAT  OF 
BURGOYNE. 


FTER  the  battle  of  Stillwater, 
the  safety  of  the  British  army 
lay  only  in  retreat.  It  was  un- 
able to  advance ;  to  fall  back  on 
the  lakes  and  return  to  Canada, 
although  difficult,  was  not  then 
impossible.  But  every  hour  lessened  the  probability 
of  victory,  and  rendered  retreat  more  impracticable. 
General  Burgoyne,  however,  could  not  at  -once 
dismiss  all  the  splendid  visions  of  conquest  and  glory 


BATTLE   OF    BEMIS'   HEIGHTS.  245 

which  had  so  long  dazzled  his  imagination ;  and  he 
flattered  himself  with  the  hope  of  a  powerful  co- 
operation on  the  side  of  New  York,  which  had  not 
been  concerted,  and  was  not  to  happen.  Under  those 
delusions  he  lingered  in  his  strong  camp  from  the 
20th  of  September  till  the  7th  of  October.  During 
that  interval  daily  skirmishes  happened,  which  ac- 
customed the  raw  troops  of  America  to  the  face  of 
an  enemy.  General  Gates,  sensible  that  delay  was 
in  his  favour,  meditated  no  immediate  attack  on  the 
hostile  camp,  but  diligently  took  measures  to  prevent 
the  escape  of  the  royal  army  from  the  toils  in  which 
it  was  entangled. 

General  Burgoyne's  difficulties  were  great,  and 
daily  increasing.  His  army  was  reduced  to  five 
thousand  regular  troops ;  his  provisions  were  almost 
exhausted,  and  his  men  put  on  short  allowance ;  his 
horses  were  perishing  for  want  of  forage ;  he  was  so 
environed  by  his  enemy  that  he  could  procure  no 
fresh  supplies,  and  he  had  received  no  recent  intel- 
ligence from  Sir  Henry  Clinton.  He  could  not  long 
remain  in  the  position  which  he  then  occupied,  and 
he  was  not  ignorant  of  the  difficulty  and  danger  of 
a  retreat.  In  these  circumstances,  he  resolved  to  try 
the  fortune  of  another  battle ;  as  a  victory  would  enable 
him  either  to  advance,  or  to  retreat  with  safety. 

Accordingly,  on  the  7th  of  October,  he  led  out 
fifteen  hundred  men,  well  provided  with  artillery,  and, 
accompanied  by  Generals  Philips,  Reidesel,  and 
Frazer,  marched  against  Gates,  leaving  his  camp 
on  the  high  grounds  under  the  care  of  Generals 
Hamilton  and  Specht,  and  the  redoubts  and  posts 
21* 


246  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

adjacent  to  the  river  under  General  Gell.  General 
Burgoyne's  detachment  had  scarcely  formed  within 
about  half  a  mile  of  the  American  intrenchments, 
when  its  left,  where  the  grenadiers  were  posted,  was 
furiously  assailed.  The  Germans,  who  were  on  the 
right  of  the  grenadiers,  were  also  soon  engaged. 
Three  regiments,  under  General  Arnold,  proceeded  to 
attack  the  right  of  the  British  detachment  in  front, 
while  another  division  endeavoured  to  turn  its  flank 
and  gain  its  rear.  In  order  to  frustrate  this  intention, 
General  Frazer,  with  the  light  infantry  and  part  of 
the  24th  regiment,  was  ordered  to  cover  the  right ; 
but,  while  he  was  making  a  movement  for  that 
purpose,  the  left  was  overpowered  and  gave  way. 
To  save  it  from  destruction,  Frazer  hastened  to  its 
assistance;  but  met  with  an  American  corps  of 
riflemen,  which  briskly  attacked  him,  and  he  was 
mortally  wounded  in  the  conflict.  The  whole  royal 
detachment  now  gave  way;  and,  with  the  loss  of 
most  of  its  artillery,  retreated  to  the  camp.  The 
Americans  closely  pursued,  and,  under  a  tremendous 
fire  of  grape-shot  and  musketry,  fiercely  assaulted  the 
works  throughout  their  whole  extent.  Arnold,  who 
conducted  the  assault,  urged  on  his  men;  but  was 
ultimately  repulsed  by  the  British  under  the  immediate 
orders  of  General  Burgoyne,  after  having  had  his 
horse  shot  under  him,  and  bein^  wounded  in  the  same 

7  o 

leg  which  had  been  injured  at  Quebec.  The  left  of 
the  American  detachment,  under  Colonel  Brooks,  was 
more  successful.  It  turned  the  right  of  the  royal 
encampment,  stormed  the  works  of  the  German  re- 
serve, under  Colonel  Brehman,  who  was  killed,  and 


BATTLE    OF    BEMIS'    HEIGHTS.  247 

his  troops  retreated,  with  the  loss  of  all  their  artillery 
and  camp  equipage ;  while  Brooks  maintained  the 
ground  which  he  had  gained. 

Darkness,  as  on  the  19th  of  September,  put  an 
end  to  the  bloody  conflict ;  and  the  Americans  lay  all 
night  on  their  arms,  about  half  a  mile  from  the  lines, 
with  the  intention  of  renewing  the  assault  in  the 
morning.  The  advantage  which  they  had  gained  was 
great.  Without  any  considerable  loss,  they  had  killed 
many  of  the  enemy,  made  upwards  of  two  hundred 
prisoners,  among  whom  were  several  officers  of  dis- 
tinction, taken  nine  pieces  of  brass  artillery,  all  the 
baggage  and  camp  equipage  of  a  German  brigade, 
obtained  a  large  supply  of  ammunition,  of  which  they 
stood  much  in  need,  and  had  entered  the  royal  lines, 
and  gained  a  position  which  threatened  their  rear. 
About  midnight,  General  Lincoln  with  his  division 

D        7 

marched  from  the  American  camp  to  relieve  the  troops 
who  had  been  engaged,  and  to  occupy  the  ground 
which  they  had  won. 

General  Burgoyne's  situation  was  now  critical  and 
distressing.  Since  he  had  come  fairly  into  contact 
with  his  enemy  he  had  met  with  an  obstinacy  of  resist- 
ance and  a  vigour  of  attack  wholly  unexpected.  In 
the  late  encounters,  the  Americans  had  shown  them- 
selves a  match  for  the  best  veteran  troops,  and  capable 
of  improving  any  advantage  which  they  might  obtain. 
Sensible,  therefore,  of  the  danger  of  encountering  the 
events  of  next  day  on  the  ground  which  he  then  occu- 
pied, General  Burgoyne  resolved  on  a  total  change  of 
position.  Accordingly,  in  the  course  of  the  night,  in  a 
silent  and  orderly  manner,  and  without  any  interrup- 


248  REVOLUTIONARY   WAR 

tion  from  the  Americans,  he  moved  his  camp  to  the  hills, 
extending  his  right  up  the  river.  The  entire  change 
of  front  extricated  him  from  the  immediate  danger 
with  which  he  was  threatened;  and  induced  the 
Americans  to  make  new  dispositions. 

On  the  8th,  General  Burgoyne  made  some  attempts 
to  provoke  General  Gates  to  attack  him  in  the  strong 
position  which  he  had  taken :  but  those  attempts  were 
ineffectual ;  for  General  Gates,  fully  aware  of  his  own 
advantages  and  of  the  difficulties  to  which  his  adver- 
sary was  reduced,  declined  an  immediate  attack ;  but 
was  active  in  taking  every  precaution  to  prevent  the 
escape  of  the  royal  army.  He  posted  fourteen  hun- 
dred men  on  the  heights  opposite  the  ford  of  Saratoga, 
and  sent  strong  detachments  to  guard  the  fords  higher 
up  the  river. 

The  8th  of  October  was  spent  in  skirmishing  and 
cannonading.  About  sunset,  the  body  of  General 
Frazer,  who  had  been  mortally  wounded  on  the  pre- 
ceding day,  was,  agreeably  to  his  own  desire,  carried 
up  the  hill,  to  be  interred  in  the  great  redoubt,  at- 
tended only  by  the  officers  who  had  lived  in  his  family. 
Generals  Burgoyne,  Philips,  and  Reidesel,  in  testi- 
mony of  respect  and  affection  for  their  late  brave 
companion  in  arms,  joined  the  mournful  procession, 
which  necessarily  passed  in  view  of  both  armies. 
The  incessant  cannonade,  the  steady  attitude  and 
unfaltering  voice  of  the  chaplain,  and  the  firm  de- 
meanour of  the  company  during  the  funeral  service, 
though  occasionally  covered  with  the  earth  torn  up 
by  the  shot  from  the  hostile  batteries  ploughing  the 
ground  around  them,  the  mute  expression  of  feeling 


BURGOYNE'S  RETREAT.  251 

pictured  on  every  countenance,  and  the  increasing 
gloom  of  the  evening,  all  contributed  to  give  an 
affecting  solemnity  to  the  obsequies.  General  Gates 
afterwards  declared,  that  if  he  had  been  apprised  of 
what  was  going  on,  he  would  at  least  have  silenced 
his  batteries,  and  allowed  the  last  offices  of  humanity 
to  be  performed  without  disturbance,  or  even  have 
ordered  minute-guns  to  be  fired  in  honour  of  the 
deceased  general. 

General  Burgoyne  being  informed  that  an  American 
column  was  advancing  with  the  intention  of  gaining 
his  right  flank,  resolved  immediately  to  retreat  to 
Saratoga,  about  ten  miles  up  the  river.  He  began 
his  march  about  nine  in  the  evening  of  the  8th, 
leaving  behind  him  several  boats  loaded  with  pro- 
visions and  baggage,  and  his  hospital,  containing 
about  three  hundred  sick  and  wounded  men,  towards 
whom  General  Gates  behaved  with  his  usual  hu- 
manity ;  but  the  roads  were  so  bad,  and  the  heavy 
rain  so  incessant,  that  it  was  the  evening  of  the  next 
day  before  the  British  army,  much  fatigued,  reached 
Saratoga ;  and  it  was  not  till  the  forenoon  of  the  10th 
that  the  rear  passed  the  fords  of  Fishkill  Creek,  a 
little  further  north.  On  arriving  at  the  ground  which 
he  intended  to  occupy,  General  Burgoyne  found  a 
party  of  the  Americans  already  in  possession  of  it ; 
but  on  his  approach  they  retreated,  and  joined  their 
countrymen  on  the  east  of  the  river. 


CAPTUEE   OF  FOKTS  CLINTON  AND  MONT- 
GOMERY. 


HE  attack  on  Forts  Clinton 
and  Montgomery,  which 
had  been  delayed  till  the 
arrival  of  reinforcements 
from  Europe,  had  been 
successfully  made.  The 
voyage  of  those  reinforce- 
ments was  tedious;  but 
they  arrived  at  New  York 
in  the  end  of  September, 
and  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
without  delay  embarked 
three  thousand  men  in  vessels  of  different  descriptions, 
and,  convoyed  by  some  ships-of-war  under  Com- 
modore Hotham,  sailed  up  the  Hudson. 

Forts  Clinton  and  Montgomery,  against  which  the 
expedition  was  directed,  were  situated  on  high  ground 
of  difficult  access,  on  the  western  bank  of  the  river, 
about  fifty  miles  above  New  York.  They  were  sepa- 
rated by  a  rivulet,  which,  flowing  from  the  hills,  empties 
itself  into  the  Hudson.  Under  cover  of  the  guns,  a 
boom  was  stretched  across  the  river  from  bank  to  bank, 
and  strengthened  by  an  immense  iron  chain  in  front,  as 
well  as  supported  by  chevaux-de-frise  sunk  behind  it. 
Above  this  strong  barrier,  a  frigate  and  galleys  were 


CAPTURE    OF    THE    FORTS.  255 

moored,  so  as  to  be  able  to  direct  a  heavy  fire  against 
any  vessels  that  might  attempt  to  force  a  passage.  This 
seemed  to  present  an  insuperable  obstacle  in  the  way 
of  the  British  shipping  towards  Albany.  Fort  Inde- 
pendence stood  four  or  five  miles  below,  on  a  high 
point  of  land,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  Fort 
Constitution  was  six  miles  above  the  boom,  on  an 
island  near  the  eastern  bank:  Peekskill,  the  head- 
quarters of  the  officer  who  commanded  on  the  Hudson, 
from  Kingsbridge  to  Albany,  was  just  below  Fort  In- 
dependence, on  the  same  side.  General  Putnam  then 
held  that  command,  and  had  about  two  thousand  men 
under  him. 

On  the  5th  of  October  Sir  Henry  Clinton  landed 
at  Verplanck's  Point,  a  little  below  Peekskill,  on  the 
same  side  of  the  river.  General  Putnam,  appre- 
hending that  the  enemy  intended  to  attack  Fort 
Independence,  and  to  march  through  the  highlands 
on  the  east  of  the  river  towards  Albany,  retired  to 
the  heights  in  his  rear ;  and,  entertaining  no  suspicion 
of  the  real  point  of  attack,  neglected  to  strengthen 
the  garrisons  of  the  fort  on  the  western  bank. 

The  British  fleet  moved  higher  up  the  river,  in 
order  to  conceal  what  was  passing  at  the  place  where 
the  troops  had  landed;  and,  on  the  evening  of  the 
day  on  which  he  had  arrived  at  Verplanck's  Point,  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  embarked  upwards  of  two  thousand 
of  his  men,  leaving  the  rest  to  guard  that  post. 
Early  next  morning  he  landed  at  Stony  Point,  on  the 
west  side  of  the  river,  and  immediately  began  his 
march  over  the  mountains  towards  the  forts.  The 
roads  were  difficult,  and  the  enterprise  perilous ;  for 


256  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

a  small  body  of  men,  properly  posted,  might  not  only 
have  arrested  his  progress,  but  repulsed  him  with 
much  loss.  He,  however,  reached  the  vicinity  of 
the  forts  before  he  was  discovered ;  there  he  fell  in 
with  a  patrole,  who  immediately  retreated,  and  gave 
warning  of  the  approaching  danger. 

Between  four  and  five  on  the  afternoon  of  the 
6th  of  October,  the  British  appeared  before  the  forts, 
which  they  summoned  to  surrender ;  and,  on  receiving 
a  refusal,  instantly  advanced  under  a  heavy  fire  to 
the  assault.  Both  forts,  garrisoned  by  about  six 
hundred  men,  were  attacked  at  the  same  time ;  Fort 
Montgomery,  by  Colonel  Campbell  at  the  head  of 
nine  hundred  men ;  and  Fort  Clinton,  the  stronger  of 
the  two  posts,  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton  with  twelve 
hundred  men.  Fort  Montgomery  was  soon  taken; 
but  Colonel  Campbell  fell  in  the  attack.  Most  of  the 
garrison,  favoured  by  the  darkness  and  by  their 
knowledge  of  the  passes,  made  their  escape.  At 
Fort  Clinton  the  resistance  was  more  obstinate ;  but 
that  fort  also  was  stormed,  and  a  considerable  number 
of  the  garrison  killed  or  made  prisoners. 

General  Putnam  had  no  suspicion  of  the  real  point 
of  attack  till  he  heard  the  firing,  when  he  despatched 
five  hundred  men  to  the  assistance  of  the  garrisons ; 
but  the  forts  were  taken  before  they  arrived,  and 
consequently  they  returned  to  camp.  In  storming 
the  forts,  the  British  had  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
men  killed  or  wounded.  Besides  Colonel  Campbell, 
Captain  Stewart,  Major  Still,  and  Count  Grabousky, 
a  Polish  nobleman  who  served  as  a  volunteer  in  the 
royal  army,  were  among  the  slain.  The  Americans 


CAPTURE    OF    THE   FORTS.  257 

lost  three  hundred  men  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
prisoners. 

The  American  vessels-of-war  in  the  river,  being 
unable  to  escape,  were  burnt  by  their  crews,  in  order 
to  prevent  them  from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the 
British,  who  removed  the  boom  and  chain,  and 
opened  the  navigation  of  the  river.  Fort  Inde- 
pendence was  evacuated ;  and  Fort  Constitution, 
where  the  navigation  was  obstructed  by  a  boom  and 
chain,  was  also  abandoned,  without  any  attempt  to 
defend  it.  The  British  proceeded  up  the  river, 
destroying  everything  in  their  power.  They  ad- 
vanced to  Esopus,  which  they  laid  in  ashes ;  but 
proceeded  no  further.  In  this  expedition  they  took 
or  destroyed  a  large  quantity  of  American  stores. 

General  Putnam  retreated  up  the  river,  informed 
General  Gates  that  he  was  unable  to  arrest  the 
progress  of  the  enemy,  and  advised  him  to  prepare 
for  the  worst.  But  although  his  rear  was  threatened, 
General  Gates  was  eager  in  improving  the  advantages 
he  had  gained  over  the  British  army,  which  was  now 
reduced  to  the  most  distressing  circumstances. 

22*  B 


-. 


SURRENDER  OF  BURGOYNE. 


^^  NDER  the  pressure  of  his 
misfortunes,  General  Bur- 
goyne,  having  been  de- 
feated in  his  intention  of 
repairing  the  road  to  Fort 
Edward,  called  a  council 
of  war,  which  adopted  the 
desperate  resolution  of 
abandoning  their  baggage,  artillery,  and  stores,  and, 
with  their  arms  only,  and  such  provision  as  they  could 
carry  on  their  backs,  marching  in  the  night  to  Fort 
Edward,  crossing  the  river  at  the  ford  there,  or  at  one 
a  little  above  it,  and  forcing  their  way  to  Fort  George. 
The  distance  was  only  about  thirty  miles;  but  the 


SURRENDER  OF    BURGOYNE.  259 

scouts  who  had  been  sent  out  to  examine  the  route, 
reported  that  the  two  fords  were  already  guarded  by 
strong  detachments  provided  with  artillery,  so  that 
the  resolution  which  had  been  taken  could  not  be 
executed.  In  these  hopeless  circumstances,  General 
Burgoyne  again  summoned  his  council  of  war,  and,  by 
the  unanimous  advice  of  the  members,  opened  a  cor- 
respondence with  General  Gates,  on  the  13th  of  Octo- 
ber ;  and,  on  the  16th,  terms  of  capitulation  were 
agreed  on,  by  which  it  was  stipulated  that  the  troops 
under  General  Burgoyne  should  next  day  march  out 
of  their  camp,  with  the  honours  of  war,  and  the  artil- 
lery of  the  intrenchments,  and  pile  their  arms  at  the 
verge  of  the  river;  that  a  free  passage  should  be 
granted  them  to  Great  Britain,  on  condition  of  not 
serving  in  North  America  during  the  war,  unless 
exchanged ;  and  that  they  should  embark '  at  Boston. 
To  these  a  number  of  articles  of  less  importance  were 
added,  relating  to  the  property  of  the  officers,  Canadi- 
ans, and  loyalists,  the  march  of  the  troops  though  New 
England,  and  other  similar  points.  On  the  17th,  the 
British  army  piled  their  arms  agreeably  to  the  capitu- 
lation. 

When  the  British  army  left  Ticonderoga  it  con- 
sisted of  about  ten  thousand  men,  exclusive  of  Indians ; 
but,  by  the  casualties  of  war,  and  by  desertion,  it  was 
reduced  to  about  six  thousand  at  the  time  of  the  sur- 
render. It  contained  six  members  of  parliament. 
General  Gates  had  then  under  his  command  upwards 
of  nine  thousand  continentals  and  four  thousand  militia. 
On  this  occasion  the  Americans  gained  a  remarkably 
tine  train  of  brass  artillery,  amounting  to  forty  pieces 


260 


REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 


of  different  descriptions,  and  all  the  arms  and  baggage 
of  the  troops.  Such  was  the  fate  of  that  army  which 
had  excited  high  expectations  in  Britain,  and  which, 
at  first,  spread  alarm  and  dismay  throughout  the 
United  States  of  America. 

In  consequence  of  the  capitulation  at  Saratoga,  the 
British  were  unable  to  retain  possession  of  the  forts 
on  the  lakes.  They  therefore  destroyed  the  works  of 
Ticonderoga  and  its  dependencies,  threw  the  heavy 
artillery  into  the  lake,  and  retreated  to  Isle  aux  Noix 
and  St.  John's. 


Silas  Deane. 


THE  TREATY  WITH  FRANCE. 

HO  EVENT  could  be  more  grati- 
fying to  the  Americans  than 
the  treaty  with  France.  On 
the  16th  of  December,  1777, 
the  preliminaries  of  a  treaty 
between  France  and  America 
were  agreed  on ;  and  the 
treaty  itself  was  signed  at  Paris,  on  the  5th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1778,— an  event  of  which  the  British  ministry  got 
information  in  little  more  than  forty-eight  hours  after 


262  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

the  signatures  were  affixed.  The  principal  articles 
of  the  treaty  were,  that  if  Britain,  in  consequence  of 
the  alliance,  should  commence  hostilities  against 
France,  the  two  countries  should  mutually  assist  each 
other;  that  the  independence  of  America  should  be 
effectually  maintained ;  that  if  any  part  of  North 
America,  still  possessing  allegiance  to  the  crown  of 
Britain,  should  be  reduced  by  the  colonies,  it  should 
belong  to  the  United  States ;  that  if  France  should 
conquer  any  of  the  British  West  India  Islands,  they 
should  be  deemed  its  property ;  that  the  contracting 
parties  should  not  lay  down  their  arms  till  the  inde- 
pendence of  America  was  formally  acknowledged,  and 
that  neither  of  them  should  conclude  a  peace  without 
the  consent  of  the  other. 

Lord  North's  conciliatory  bills  reached  America 
before  the  news  of  the  French  treaty,  and  excited  in 
Congress  considerable  alarm.  There  were  a  number 
of  loyalists  in  each  of  the  colonies  :  many,  though  not 
unfriendly  to  the  American  cause,  had  never  entered 
cordially  into  the  quarrel ;  and  the  heavy  pressure  of 
the  war  had  begun  to  cool  the  zeal  and  exhaust  the 
patience  of  some  who  had  once  been  forward  in  their 
opposition  to  Britain.  Congress  became  apprehensive 
lest  a  disposition  should  prevail  to  accept  of  the  terms 
proposed  by  the  British  government,  and  the  great 
body  of  the  people  be  willing  to  resign  the  advantages 
of  independence,  in  order  to  escape  from  present 
calamity. 

The  American  legislature  referred  the  bills  to  a 
committee  of  their  number,  which,  after  an  acute  and 
severe  examination,  gave  in  a  report,  well  calculated 


TREATY    WITH    FRANCE.  265 

to  counteract  the  effects  which  it  was  apprehended  the 
bills  would  produce  on  the  minds  of  the  timid  and 
wavering.  They  reported  as  their  opinion,  that  it 
was  the  aim  of  those  bills  to  create  divisions  in  the 
states;  and  "  that  they  were  the  sequel  of  that  insidious 
plan,  which,  from  the  days  of  the  stamp  act  down  to  the 
present  time,  hath  involved  this  country  in  contention 
and  bloodshed  ;  and  that,  as  in  other  cases,  so  in  this, 
although  circumstances  may  at  times  force  them  to 
recede  from  their  unjustifiable  claims,  there  can  be  no 
doubt  but  they  will,  as  heretofore,  upon  the  first  favour- 
able occasion,  again  display  that  lust  of  domination 
which  hath  rent  in  twain  the  mighty  empire  of 
Britain." 

They  further  reported  it  as  their  opinion,  that  any 
men,  or  body  of  men,  who  should  presume  to  make 
any  separate  or  partial  convention  or  agreement  with 
commissioners  under  the  crown  of  Great  Britain, 
should  be  considered  and  treated  as  open  and  avowed 
enemies  of  the  United  States.  The  committee  further 
gave  it  as  their  opinion,  that  the  United  States  could 
not  hold  any  conference  with  the  British  commission- 
ers, unless  Britain  first  withdrew  her  fleets  and  armies, 
or  in  positive  and  express  terms  acknowledged  the 
independence  of  the  states. 

While  these  things  were  going  on,  Mr.  Silas  Deane 
arrived  from  Paris,  with  the  important  and  gratifying 
information  that  treaties  of  alliance  and  commerce 
had  been  concluded  between  France  and  the  United 
States.  This  intelligence  diffused  a  lively  joy  through- 
out America ;  and  was  received  by  the  people  as  the 
23 


REVOLUTIONARY  WAR. 

harbinger  of  their  independence.  The  alliance  had 
been  long  expected ;  and  the  delays  thrown  in  the  way 
of  its  accomplishment  had  excited  many  uneasy  appre- 
hensions. But  these  were  now  dissipated ;  and,  to  the 
fond  imaginations  of  the  people,  all  the  prospects  of 
the  United  States  were  gilded  with  the  cheering 
beams  of  prosperity.  Like  Penn's  famous  treaty 
with  the  Indians,  that  of  the  United  States  with  the 
French  government  was  destined  to  be  faithfully 
observed.  The  misunderstanding  which  subsequently 
followed,  was  with  the  revolutionists  who  had  over 
thrown  the  ancient  government. 


Death   of  Pulaski 


ATTACK  ON  SAVANNAH  AND  DEATH  OF  PULASKI. 


O  the  American  arms, 
the  9th  of  October,  1779, 
was  a  day  of  misery,  dis- 
aster, and  defeat.  For 
five  daye,  nine  mortars 
and  fifty-two  cannon  had 
poured  their  iron  showers 
upon  the  English  lines ; 
but  now  the  allied  ar- 
mies gathered  their  le- 
gions for  a  closer  and 
more  terrible  struggle.  Forty-five  hundred  men 


268  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

arranged  themselves  in  two  columns,  and  moved  to 
the  attack.  On  the  left  of  the  enemy's  line  was  the 
flower  of  the  troops,  led  on  by  D'Estaing  and 
Lincoln ;  the  other  column  was  led  by  Count  Dillon ; 
while  a  third  movement  was  made  against  the 
enemy's  centre  and  left,  to  attract  attention,  and 
press  any  advantage  which  might  be  derived  from 
the  assault  on  the  left. 

The  morning  was  dark  and  lowering.  A  dense 
mist  hung  over  the  city  and  river,  shrouding  the 
opposing  forces  from  sight;  while  the  thick,  damp 
air,  clogged  with  the  exhalations  of  night,  depressed 
each  spirit  as  it  contemplated  the  work  before  it. 

Under  this  thick  cloud  the  Americans  advanced 
to  the  attack.  Onward  through  thick  darkness  they 
move,  with  nothing  to  disturb  the  harrowing  silence 
but  their  muffled  tread.  Led  on  by  D'Estaing  and 
Lincoln,  the  first  column  presses  forward,  until  the 
enemy's  fortifications,  magnified  through  the  sur- 
rounding mist,  are  dimly  seen  in  the  distance.  They 
have  advanced  undiscovered ;  but  at  that  moment  a 
fiery  sheet  flashes  through  the  gloom,  a  roar  like 
thunder  follows,  and  iron  showers  are  crushing  and 
tearing  among  their  ranks.  Then  there  was  a  pause 
— the  words  of  command  rung  out,  the  broken  lines 
united,  and  the  column  moved  on.  Nearer  and 
nearer  they  draw,  until  the  frowning  batteries  of  the 
enemy  are  distinctly  seen.  The  artillery  reopens,  and 
the  long  lines  reel  and  stagger  before  it.  Yet  still 
the  two  commanders  hurry  from  point  to  point,  the 
stern  column  recloses,  the  soldiers  press  on.  Then 
the  British  open  all  their  guns — full  in  front  of  the 


ATTACK   ON    SAVANNAH.  269 

moving  mass  that  dark  fortification  glares  and 
thunders  like  a  volcano,  and  troop  and  company 
wither  before  it.  Yet  over  the  uproar  of  battle  the 
shouts  of  command  rang  along  the  line,  and  kept  each 
man  to  duty.  Fear  had  given  way  to  callous  in- 
difference— a  stern  resolution  of  vengeance.  They 
sweep  along  under  the  iron  hurricane,  face  the  guns, 
and  stretch  forward  to  leap  the  parapet.  In  that 
terrible  moment,  while  victory  is  oscillating  in  the 
balance,  no  one  pauses  to  look  for  the  other  column — 
no  one  knows  that  it  has  been  bewildered  in  the 
darkness,  lost  its  path,  and  failed  in  co-operation. 
Those  iron  men  leap  the  breastwork,  plant  their 
standards,  and  close  with  the  foe. 

Now  began  the  fierce  struggle  for  conquest.  The 
British  were  commanded  at  that  point  by  the  gallant 
Colonel  Maitland,  whose  voice  could  drive  the  troops 
upon  the  hottest  battery.  Now  it  rang  with  thrilling 
energy  along  the  battlements,  and  invited  each  soldier 
to  his  post.  The  cannon  was  hushed;  then  aloud  roll 
of  musketry  died  away ;  then  bayonet  crossed  with 
bayonet,  and  all  was  still.  It  was  not  the  silence  of 
repose  or  expectation — but  of  gloom  and  horror,  and 
racking  energy. 

At  this  moment  the  grenadiers  and  marines  were 
brought  up  to  charge  the  American  flank.  Full  of 
ardour  and  resolution,  these  fresh  troops  poured  upon 
our  worried  column,  sweeping  away  all  resistance, 
and  hurling  the  former  shouting  victors  into  the 
ditches  or  through  the  abattis.  Then  they  encountered 
the  rear,  and  there  was  a  period  of  wild  and  obstinate 
struggling.  The  commanders  of  France  and  America 
3  23* 


270  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

still  called  their  broken  legions  round  them,  and  vied 
with  each  other  in  feats  of  daring.  Undismayed  by 
heavy  loss,  the  troops  closed  with  the  enemy,  and 
fought  with  a  heroism  unsurpassed  in  the  annals  of 
our  country. 

At  this  critical  moment,  two  hundred  horsemen 
came  dashing  through  the  works,  crushing  and 
blasting  everything  that  opposed  them.  The  British 
commander  grew  dark  at  the  sight,  for  he  knew  that 
Pulaski  was  heading  that  resistless  avalanche.  There 
was  a  moment  of  fearful  excitement — of  outcry  and 
confusion ;  then  those  furious  riders  swept  on  against 
the  British  rear.  Pulaski  sprung  upward  in  his  stir- 
rups, his  sword  flashing  through  the  smoke  of  battle, 
and  his  terrible  voice  ringing  like  a  spirit's  through  the 
stirring  uproar.  The  next  moment  he  fell  from  his 
horse,  his  bosom  torn  and  shattered.  Then  a  cry  of 
horror  went  up  to  heaven,  the  iron  hoof  ceased  its 
tramplings,  the  charge  was  stayed.  Loud  shouts 
went  up  from  the  British  line,  fresh  troops  poured  in 
overwhelming  torrents  on  the  exhausted  Americans, 
till  slowly  and  sadly  they  commenced  their  retreat. 
Then  the  artillery  reopened,  tearing  and  scattering 
their  drooping  regiments  until  the  camp  was  gained. 
Seven  hundred  Frenchmen,  and  two  hundred  and 
fifty  Americans,  were  left  dead  and  wounded  around 
the  works  of  Savannah, 

The  retreat  of  the  Americans  was  conducted  in 
good  order.  No  attempt  to  convert  it  into  a  rout  was 
made  by  the  British  general,  who,  having  gained  his 
object,  wisely  refrained  from  hazarding  by  this  measure 
the  safety  of  the  town  and  garrison.  Being  protected 


ATTACK  ON    SAVANNAH. 


271 


by  skilfully  constructed  works,  his  total  loss  was  but 
about  one  hundred  in  killed  and  wounded. 

In  this  attack,  everything  was  done  by  the  assail- 
ants which  brave  men  could  do.  The  darkness  of  the 
morning  produced  the  loss  of  punctual  combination 
between  the  columns,  which  unfortunate  occurrence 
probably  led  to  the  repulse.  The  daring  effort  of 
Pulaski  to  retrieve  the  day,  with  his  much  regretted 
fall,  presents  additional  proof  of  the  high  spirit  which 
actuated  the  besiegers,  and  demonstrates  that  every 
difficulty  was  encountered,  every  danger  braved,  to 
crown  the  enterprise  with  success.  The  real  causes 
of  defeat  are  to  be  found  in  the  character  of  the  opera- 
tions previous  to  the  assault. 


Storming   of  Stony  Point. 


STORMING  OF  STONY  POINT. 

ERHAPS  the  most  brilliant 
event  of  our  revolutionary 
struggle  was  the  storming 
of  Stony  Point ;  and  indeed 
it  has  few  equals  in  the 
whole  history  of  offensive 
warfare.  It  was  a  source 
of  as  great  astonishment  to 
the  British  as  of  exultation  to  the  Americans,  and 
raised  the  character  of  our  troops  in  the  estimation  of 
all  Europe. 

As  the  position  of  the  enemy  at  Stony  Point  ena- 
bled them  to  do  much  mischief,  General  Wayne  re- 
quested of  Washington  permission  to  form  a  corps 


STORMING   OF    STONY    POINT.  273 

of  light  infantry,  with  which  he  should  march  against 
it.  To  this  the  commander  agreed,  and  drew  up  for 
the  intrepid  general  a  plan  of  attack. 

Early  on  the  evening  of  the  15th  of  July,  Wayne 
arrived  within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  the  fortress,  and 
commenced  a  final  reconnoissance.  The  steep  hill 
that  supported  the  fort,  was  washed  on  two  sides  by 
the  Hudson,  while  on  a  third  was  a  deep  marsh.  The 
only  ascent  was  rugged  and  precipitous ;  while  high 
over  all,  as  though  defying  the  utmost  efforts  of  the 
assailant,  the  fort  commanded  every  advance,  and  was 
glittering  with  cannon  and  musketry.  The  evening 
was  beautiful ;  and  as  the  cloudless  heavens  looked  on 
that  frowning  height,  and  on  the  little  band  below, 
they  formed  strange  contrast  with  the  warring,  jarring 
passions  of  man. 

The  orders  issued  to  the  soldiers  that  night  were 
in  keeping  with  the  stern  and  terrible  nature  of  their 
duties.  They  were  to  march  with  empty  muskets, 
utter  no  word,  make  no  attempt  at  retreat  under  pain 
of  death.  And  they  were  strictly  obeyed — the  as- 
sault was  a  triumph  of  military  discipline.  At  half- 
past  eleven,  when  all  around  was  wrapped  in  slumber, 
the  troops  moved  up  in  perfect  silence.  The  army 
was  divided  into  two  columns,  each  preceded  by 
twenty  men  acting  as  a  forlorn  hope.  All  command 
was  given  in  a  whisper ;  the  tread  of  heavy  columns 
was  soft  as  falling  snow ;  and  a  stillness,  more 
thrilling  than  the  grave,  brooded  over  their  march. 
On  arriving  at  the  marsh,  it  was  found  flooded  with 
water;  but  the  officers  waded  through,  followed  by 
their  troops.  Then  a  sentry-gun  broke  amid  the 


274  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

gloom,  followed  by  another  and  another.  Our  troops 
had  been  discovered.  In  a  moment  there  was  a 
rushing  of  confused  preparation,  of  alarm-guns,  and 
shouts  of  command ;  the  next  instant  the  rock  was 
blazing  and  heaving  with  artillery.  But  each  soldier 
remembered  his  orders;  there  was  no  more  whis- 
pering orders ;  Wayne's  dreadful  voice  came  pealing 
through  the  lines,  and  each  soldier  sprang  forward 
through  the  withering  sleet  with  renewed  energy. 
Still  those  raging  batteries  poured  down  their  blasts, 
and  a  sheet  of  livid  fire  leaped  along  the  ramparts 
from  six  hundred  muskets ;  but  over  rocks  and  preci- 
pices, and  dead  and  dying,  the  wildly  shouting  hero 
leads  his  men.  The  advance  reach  the  parapet,  and 
employ  their  picks  and  axes  to  open  a  passage ;  man 
after  man  falls,  yet  silently  they  continue  their  work. 
Now  the  troops  have  gained  the  last  ascent — but  a 
little  before  them  is  the  object  of  their  dreadful  labour. 
But  the  struggle  to  win  it  is  terrible.  The  balls  bore 
through  and  through  their  column,  piling  the  dead 
and  dying  on  every  rock  and  every  eminence. 
Wayne  falls ;  but  supporting  himself  on  one  knee,  he 
exclaims,  "  March  on !  carry  me  into  the  fort,  for  I 
will  die  at  the  head  of  my  column."  Snatching  him  in 
their  arms,  they  bore  him  to  the  rampart,  and  leaped 
among  the  enemy.  The  artillery  ceased,  and  British 
valour  recoiled  before  the  iron  shower  that  swept  the 
breastwork.  On,  on  through  the  fort  the  stern  Ameri- 
cans charged,  until  the  columns  from  either  side  met 
in  the  centre.  Then  the  work  of  death  was  over; 
the  fort  was  gained ;  Wayne  had  triumphed :  and  one 
wild,  uproarious  shout  told  this  and  much  more,  as  it 


STORMING    OF    STONY    POINT.  275 

was  repeated  again  and  again  among  those  towering 
cliffs. 

In  this  assault  the  Americans  lost  sixty-three  killed, 
and  about  forty  wounded.  General  Wayne's  wound 
in  the  head,  believed  at  first  to  be  mortal,  proved 
but  slight.  The  garrison  had  twenty  killed  and 
seventy-four  wounded,  including  six  officers.  Our 
troops  captured  five  hundred  and  forty-three  soldiers 
and  officers,  besides  a  considerable  quantity  of 
ordnance  and  military  stores. 


General    Sullivan. 


GENERAL  SULLIVAN'S  CAMPAIGN  AGAINST  THE 
MOHAWKS. 


N  sundry  expeditions  carried 
on  against  the  Indians,  du- 
ring the  revolutionary  war, 
ample  vengeance  had  been 
taken  on  some  of  them ;  but 
these  partial  successes  pro- 
duced no  lasting  benefit. 
The  few  who  escaped  had  it 
in  their  power  to  make  thou- 
sands of  our  settlers  miser- 
able. For  the  permanent  security  of  the  frontier, 


SULLIVAN'S   EXPEDITION.  279 

it  was  resolved,  in  the  year  1779,  to  carry  a  decisive 
expedition  into  the  Indian  country.  Accordingly,  a 
considerable  body  of  continental  troops  was  selected 
for  this  purpose,  and  placed  under  the  command  of 
General  Sullivan. 

Upon  receiving  intelligence  of  this  movement,  the 
Indians  collected  their  forces,  upon  advantageous 
ground,  and  fortified  themselves  with  strength  and 
precision.  In  the  latter  part  of  August,  Sullivan 
arrived  in  the  neighbourhood  of  their  fort,  having 
marched  several  hundred  miles  through  an  utter 
wilderness,  and  experienced  hardships  both  numerous 
and  formidable.  The  enemy  were  now  in  sight,  but 
intrenched  behind  extensive  works,  from  which  no- 
thing could  drive  them  but  a  fierce  exterminating  battle. 
On  the  29th,  battle  was  given.  It  was  an  action  re- 
plete with  ferocity  and  bloodshed.  One  by  one,  friend 
and  foe  were  picked  off,  by  the  unerring  rifle,  while  a 
wail  of  sorrow  pierced  lamentably  through  the  dread 
confusion.  Dashing  the  dead  from  their  stations, 
the  Indians  stood  by  their  defences  with  loud  shouts, 
and  for  two  hours  defied  every  effort  of  their  assail- 
ants. Exasperated  by  mutual  outrages,  each  party 
fought  with  a  desperation  worthy  of  victory.  But  at 
length  the  discipline  of  regular  troops  prevailed.  The 
works  were  reached,  the  trenches  forced,  and  the 
savages  obliged  to  flee  on  all  sides. 

The  consternation  occasioned  by  this  defeat,  was 
so  great  that  the  Indians  abandoned  all  their  settle- 
ments, and  fled  towards  Canada.  General  Sullivan 
advanced  through  rows  of  the  richest  corn  fields,  bloom- 
ing orchards,  and  thriving  villages.  Over  these  the  with- 


280  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

ering  hand  of  retaliation  was  spread,  and  ruin  and  deso- 
lation blasted  the  labour  of  years.  Towns  and  settle- 
ments were  broken  up,  vegetation  levelled  with  the 
ground,  and  all  portable  property  captured.  At  night 
the  glare  of  fire  reflected  from  the  sky,  showed 
where  the  cottage  was  consuming ;  while  in  the  dis- 
tance the  wretched  red  man  was  chafing  in  wild,  but 
impotent  fury,  or  casting  one  sad  look  on  his  ruined 
home. 

The  quantity  of  corn  destroyed  was  immense.  Or- 
chards in  which  were  several  hundred  fruit  trees,  were 
cut  down — many  of  these  had  been  planted  for  a 
number  of  years.  The  Indians  were  made  to  feel  the 
calamities  they  had  so  often  inflicted  upon  others ;  and 
the  sufferings  they  experienced,  together  with  a  fear  of 
their  repetition,  should  they  recommence  their  depre- 
dations, rendered  their  invasions  cautious  and  timid. 

Meanwhile  (July  23d),  a  party  of  sixty  Indians  and 
twenty-seven  whites,  under  the  infamous  Brandt,  at- 
tacked the  Minisink  settlement,  fired  a  fort,  two  mills, 
and  a  number  of  other  dwellings,  and  carried  off  some 
prisoners  and  booty.  About  one  hundred  and  fifty 
militia  assembled  and  pursued  them ;  but  acted  with 
so  little  caution,  that  they  were  defeated  by  the 
Indians. 

Another  defeat  experienced  by  the  Indians  about 
this  time,  contributed,  in  no  little  degree,  to  prevent 
for  a  short  time  the  numerous  outbreaks  which  they 
had  so  long  carried  on.  General  Williamson  and 
Colonel  Pickens  entered  the  Indian  country  adjacent 
to  South  Carolina,  burned  and  destroyed  the  corn  of 
eight  towns,  pursued  the  warriors  from  post  to  post, 


SULLIVAN'S  EXPEDITION.  281 

and  finally  insisted  upon  their  removing  immediately 
from  their  habitations  into  the  more  remote  settle- 
ments. 

In  1781,  the  Cherokee  Indians  commenced  hostili- 
ties in  the  district  of  Ninety-Six,  burning  some  houses, 
and  murdering  several  families.  General  Pickens 
promptly  collected  a  party  of  three  hundred  and 
ninety-four  horsemen  ;  and,  after  a  march  of  fourteen 
days,  arrived  in  their  country.  To  the  savages  his 
progress  was  terrible.  Forty  were  killed,  a  large 
number  taken  prisoners,  and  thirteen  of  their  towns 
and  villages  destroyed.  In  this  expedition,  the  troops 
fought  in  a  manner  altogether  unique — the  horsemen 
rushing  forward  on  horseback,  and  charging  the  In- 
dians with  drawn  swords. 

This  was  the  most  rapid  and  decisive  of  all  the  in- 
vasions of  the  Indian  country  during  the  war.  Not 
an  American  was  killed,  and  but  two  wounded.  The 
vanquished  Cherokees  sued  for  peace  in  the  most  sub- 
missive manner,  promising  to  deliver  to  the  United 
States  all  royalists  who  should  hereafter  instigate 
them  to  hostilities. 

Some  other  disturbances  happened  with  various 
tribes,  previous  to  the  close  of  the  war.  The  suffering 
produced  in  some  of  these  was  fearful.  Not  only 
warriors,  but  women  and  children  were  indiscrimi- 
nately massacred,  and  whole  settlements  involved  in 
flames.  Each  party  was  a  scourge  to  the  other  -,  and 
war  was  rendered  doubly  distressing,  by  the  dispersion 
of  families,  the  breaking  up  of  settlements,  and  a 
savage  devastation  of  those  objects  which  conduce  to 
the  comfort  of  life. 
24* 


TARLETON'S  QUARTERS. 

IMMEDIATELY  after 
the  fall  of  Charleston 
(May  12th,  1780), 
Lieut.  Colonel  Bu- 
ford,  commanding  the 
remnant  of  the  conti- 
nental force  in  the 
south,  broke  up  his 

camp  near  Camden,  and  retired  hastily  toward  North 
Carolina.  At  this  time  all  who  still  adhered  to  the 
American  cause  were  in  alarm.  The  royalists  over- 
ran the  country ;  British  garrisons  were  stationed  at 
every  important  post,  and  the  lives  and  property  of 
the  patriots  were  in  continual  danger. 

At  this  time  Cornwallis  was  near  the  Santee ;  and 
having  heard  of  Buford's  precipitate  retreat,  de- 
termined to  push  a  detachment  after  him.  This 
command,  consisting  of  one  hundred  and  seventy 
cavalry,  aided  by  one  hundred  mounted  infantry,  was 
intrusted  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Tarleton.  This  im- 
petuous officer  entered  upon  his  duty  with  alacrity ; 
and  fearing  lest  his  prey  should  escape,  hurried  for- 
ward with  the  cavalry  alone.  One  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  were  passed  in  fifty-four  hours;  while  terror 
and  flight  ever  preceded  the  approach  of  that  fierce 
cavalry.  On  the  29th  his  jaded  horses  reached  the 
friendly  settlement  of  the  Waxhaws,  where  Buford 


TARLETON'S  QUARTERS.         285 

with  his  force  was  stationed.  Tarleton  immediately 
demanded  a  surrender,  on  the  same  terms  which  had 
been  offered  to  the  garrison  at  Charleston.  During 
the  negotiation,  Tarleton  made  preparations  for  an 
attack;  and  the  moment  a  refusal  was  sent  to  his 
request,  he  ordered  his  cavalry  to  charge.  The 
Americans  were  totally  unprepared  for  battle,  and 
beheld  the  coming  of  the  furious  horsemen  with  the 
wildest  terror.  Beneath  that  headlong  charge,  led  by 
Tarleton  himself,  the  ground  trembled,  and  the 
militia  sent  up  a  cry  of  terror  that  echoed  dreadfully 
along  the  plain.  Before  the  first  rude  shock,  man 
and  horse  and  rider  were  flung  to  earth,  mashed, 
distorted,  lifeless.  On  those  iron  men  drove,  grinding 
the  shrieking  wretches  into  the  sand,  and  over- 
throwing everything  in  their  course.  The  cry  for 
quarter  rose  above  the  ringing  conflict ;  but  it  was 
met  by  jeers,  and  imprecations,  and  fiendish  laughter. 
Youth  and  age,  the  suppliant  wailing  on  his  knees, 
and  the  soul  too  proud,  too  patriotic  to  bend,  went 
down  together.  Throbbing  hearts  that  but  an  hour 
ago  were  bounding  with  youth  and  buoyancy,  now 
were  crushed  from  their  bosoms  by  the  charger's  iron 
heel.  Still  the  trampling,  the  shouting,  the  ringing  of 
sabres,  and  life's  last  piteous  appeal  went  up,  and 
satiated  the  ear  of  Death  with  savage  butchery. 
Riding  backward  and  forward  over  the  mangled 
companies,  Tarleton  glutted  his  eyes  on  the  terrible 
spectacle,  and  cheered  on  his  men  to  their  work.  The 
prayer  for  mercy  was  music  to  his  ears;  and  his 
haughty  eye  grew  more  bright,  more  intensely 
thrilling,  as  he  saw  the  blood  of  the  helpless  oozing 


286  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

among  the  parched  sands.  Through  and  through  the 
ranks  were  those  horsemen  driven,  until  their  jaded 
steeds  could  no  longer  leap  the  piles  of  dead  that 
obstructed  their  course.  Gradually  the  battle  shout 
was  hushed,  and  low  agonizing  moans,  with  yells  of 
insufferable  anguish,  grew  more  and  more  distinct. 
On  that  dreadful  plain  the  taunts  of  the  cruel  Briton 
sharpened  the  horrors  of  the  last  mortal  hour,  and 
filled  up  the  measure  of  that  day's  iniquity. 

Of  four  hundred  American  infantry  engaged  in  this 
affair,  but  eighty  or  ninety  escaped ;  a  few  cavalry, 
under  Colonel  Buford,  accompanied  them.  One 
hundred  and  thirteen  were  killed,  one  hundred  and 
fifty  so  badly  wounded  as  to  be  left  on  the  ground, 
and  fifty-three  taken  prisoners.  Most  of  the  wounded 
died  upon  the  field. 

This  tragic  event  filled  the  Americans  with  the 
utmost  indignation,  and  afforded  a  precedent  for  many 
acts  of  retaliation  which  subsequently  disgraced  the 
proceedings  of  the  Southern  war.  It  was  stigmatized 
by  the  appellation  of  Tarleton's  Quarters,  and  caused 
the  character  of  that  officer  to  be  held  in  universal 
abhorrence. 


BATTLE  OF  CAMDEN  AND  DEATH  OF  DE  KALB. 

HE  defeat  of  Gates  at  Cam- 
den  (August  16, 1780),  was 
the  most  terrible  of  all  the 
disasters  experienced  by 
our  Southern  army  during 
the  war  of  the  Revolution. 
It  annihilated  the  army, 
ruined  the  fame  of  its  general,  filled  the  country  with 
alarm,  and,  but  for  the  genius  of  Greene,  would  have 
won  the  Southern  States  to  Great  Britain. 

At  dawn  of  day,  the  American  artillery  opened, 
and  the  left  of  the  line,  under  General  Stephens,  was 
ordered  to  advance.  Exhorting  his  soldiers  to  rely 
principally  on  the  bayonet,  this  officer  advanced  with 
his  accustomed  intrepidity.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Otho 
Williams  preceded  him  with  a  band  of  volunteers,  in 
order  to  invite  the  fire  of  the  enemy  before  they  were 
in  reach  of  the  militia,  so  that  experience  of  its  ineffi- 
ciency might  encourage  the  latter  to  do  their  duty. 
Upon  discovering  this  movement,  the  British  general 
gave  orders  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Webster  to  lead 
into  battle  with  the  right.  That  gallant  officer  entered 
upon  his  duties  with  his  accustomed  judgment  and 
courage;  and,  in  a  few  minutes,  General  Stephens  had 
.the  mortification  to  observe  his  brigade  flying  before 
overpowering  numbers.  The  North  Carolina  brigade 
followed  the  shameful  example ;  Stephens,  Caswell, 
25  T 


290  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

Gates  himself,  struggled  to  stop  the  fugitives ;  but 
every  feeling  was  absorbed  in  a  desire  to  preserve  life. 
The  only  troops  left  to  oppose  the  enemy,  were  the 
continentals,  an'd  Dixon's  regiment  of  North  Caroli- 
nians, of  which  every  corps  acted  with  the  most  de- 
termined resolution. 

Meanwhile,  the  Baron  de  Kalb,  enveloped  in  the 
hottest  of  the  battle,  was  struggling  for  victory  on 
the  right.  A  corps  of  the  enemy  who  advanced 
against  Lieutenant-Colonel  Howard,  were  met  and 
nobly  driven  out  of  line ;  and  for  a  moment  victory 
inclined  with  the  Americans.  Then  Lord  Rawdon 
collected  the  strength  of  his  wing  and  came  down 
like  an  avalanche  upon  the  brigade  of  General  Gist. 
But,  calling  his  little  band  around  him,  that  officer 
pointed  to  the  coming  storm,  and  ordered  each  man 
to  his  post.  For  days  and  nights  he  had  toiled  with 
his  brave  Marylanders,  in  every  hardship  and  every 
danger ;  he  had  stood  the  hottest  of  the  battle,  and 
now,  heedless  of  fatigue,  he  sternly  awaited  the  living 
mass  that  was  poured  upon  him.  On  they  came — hun- 
dreds of  muskets  flashed  before  them,  and  their  artillery 
tore  and  withered  his  ranks  like  a  hurricane.  Then  came 
the  fearful  charge — and  in  a  moment  the  disappointed 
foe  were  rolling  back,  repulsed,  disheartened.  High 
over  the  uproar,  De  Kalb's  iron  voice  pealed  along, 
and  each  soldier  knew  that  victory  or  death  was  near. 
Again  and  again,  Lord  Rawdon  rushed  on  the  devoted 
brigade,  while  at  each  time  a  confused  rush,  a  fearfui 
silence,  and  then  the  hurryings  of  retreat,  announced 
that  patriotism  was  still  triumphant.  Chafing  like  a 
wounded  lion,  Rawdon  dashed  from  point  to  point, 


BATTLE    OF    CAMDEN.  291 

driving  his  worried  legion  on  the  foe ;  while,  on  the  other 
side,  the  voice  of  Gist,  buoyant  with  hope  and  victory, 
thrilled  the  bosom  of  every  American.  Dense  and 
resistless,  his  band  commenced  their  onward  move- 
ment, and  the  terrified  British  shrank  at  their  ap- 
proach. 

But  the  moment  of  triumph  was  short.  The 
flight  of  the  militia  on  the  other  wing  having  left 
Colonel  Webster  unemployed,  he  detached  some  light 
troops  with  Tarleton's  cavalry  in  pursuit,  and  opposed 
himself  to  the  reserve  brought  up  by  Smallwood  to 
replace  the  fugitives.  The  languor  of  repulse  was 
succeeded  by  the  renewed  shock  and  terrible  wrestling 
for  victory.  All  alone,  opposed  to  overwhelming  num- 
bers, the  Marylanders  threw  themselves  into  a  square, 
and  received  the  hurried  rush  of  the  enemy's  artillery. 
Rank  sunk  down  upon  rank,  until  but  a  remnant  was 
left.  These  the  baron  rallied  around  him,  and, 
ignorant  of  Gates's  disaster,  prepared  for  a  final  effort. 
That  charge  was  not  the  slow  deliberate  advance, 
when  whole  columns  sink  down  before  they  reach  the 
foe.  It  was  hurled  on  the  British  like  a  whirlwind, 
sweeping  away  all  resistance.  Part  of  the  enemy 
broke  in  confusion,  with  the  loss  of  many  prisoners. 
It  was  a  moment  of  high  hopes,  and  bounding  exulta- 
tion— and  but  a  moment.  So  inferior  was  the  force 
of  the  Americans,  that  while  Smallwood  covered  the 
flank  of  the  second  brigade,  his  left  became  exposed ; 
and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Webster,  ever  on  the  alert  to 
seize  an  advantage,  turned  against  this  devoted  flank 
his  light  infantry  and  the  23d  regiment.  But  though 
almost  surrounded  by  superior  numbers,  the  first 


REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

brigade  maintained  the  conflict  until  literally  pushed 
from  the  ground.  But  the  next  moment  they  rallied, 
and  advanced  to  the  desperate  struggle ;  again  they 
were  driven  back,  and  again  rallied,  rushing  over  bleed- 
ing masses,  to  the  very  bayonets  of  the  enemy. 
Near  them  De  Kalb,  with  his  Maryland  veterans,  was 
fighting  hand  to  hand  with  the  disciplined  hosts  of 
Britain. 

At  length  Lord  Cornwallis  concentrated  his  forces, 
and  ordered  a  decisive  charge.  Then  there  was  a 
period  of  wild  rushing,  of  confused  uproar,  and 
racking  suspense.  Even  the  tones  of  command  died 
in  the  intensity  of  that  terrible  moment.  Then  the 
cloud  of  battle  dispersed,  and  De  Kalb  had  dis- 
appeared. Pierced  with  eleven  wounds,  he  had  fallen 
beneath  the  trampling  armies.  Long  rows  of  bayo- 
nets sprang  madly  toward  him;  but  his  aid,  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel du  Buyssen,  threw  himself  upon  his 
friend, — and  while  crying  out,  "  Spare  the  Baron  de 
Kalb,"  received  the  keen  weapon  intended  for  his 
friend. 

Our  troops  were  broken  ;  and  after  having 
wrestled  all  day  against  the  flower  of  the  enemy's 
army,  were  compelled  to  fly  to  the  neighbouring 
woods  and  swamps.  The  pursuit  was  continued 
until  not  a  fugitive  could  be  seen  ;  the  road  was 
heaped  with  the  dead  and  dying ;  and  arms,  artillery, 
horses,  and  articles  of  baggage,  were  strewn  in  every 
direction. 

The  baron  was  treated  with  every  attention  by 
the  victors,  but  he  survived  the  battle  only  a  few  days. 
His  last  moments  were  spent  in  dictating  a  letter 


DEATH   OF    DE  KALB. 


293 


to  General  Smallwood,  his  successor  in  command, 
breathing  in  every  word  his  sincere  and  ardent 
affection  for  officers  and  soldiers ;  expressing  his 
admiration  of  their  late  noble  though  unsuccessful 
stand;  reciting  the  eulogy  which  their  bravery  had 
extorted  from  the  enemy,  and  the  lively  delight  which 
such  testimony  of  their  valour  had  excited  in  his  own 
mind.  Then,  feeling  the  pressure  of  death,  he  ex- 
tended his  quivering  hand  to  his  friend  Du  Buyssen, 
and  breathed  his  last  in  benedictions  on  his  faithful, 
brave  division. 


25 


Andre. 


AKNOLD'S  TREASON. 

HE  most  disgraceful  event 
of  the  revolutionary  war, 
and  one  which,  but  for  its 
timely  discovery,  would 
have  been  productive  of 
the  most  direful  conse- 
quences, was  the  treason 
of  General  Arnold.  Brave 
as  was  this  officer,  and 
capable,  through  his  influence  among  the  soldiers,  of 
sweeping  the  hosts  of  a  superior  army  like  a  whirl- 


ARNOLD'S    TREASON.  295 

wind,  he  yet  possessed  qualities  of  mind  that  tarnished 
most  of  his  actions,  and  stamped  him  as  a  man  dan- 
gerous alike  to  civil  and  military  government.  Proud, 
ambitious,  unable  to  control  his  passions,  he  frequently 
became  involved  in  difficulties  from  which  he  found  it 
impossible  to  extricate  himself.  His  extravagance 
and  pomp  of  living  were  far  beyond  his  means,  and 
consequently  he  was  often  embarrassed  in  pecuniary 
concerns.  These  circumstances  were  aggravated  by 
the  neglect  and  ingratitude  of  Congress,  who  refused 
to  bestow  upon  him  that  distinction  which  his  great 
services  merited,  and  which  had  been  extended  to 
officers  inferior  to  him  in  even  military  accomplish- 
ment. The  consequence  was,  deep  rancour  toward 
that  body,  a  determination  of  revenge,  and  a  discon- 
tent and  heartlessness  with  the  service. 

After  the  capture  of  Burgoyne,  in  which  he  acted  a 
splendid  part,  he  suddenly  became  inactive,  and  re- 
quested of  Washington  the  command  of  West  Point, 
a  station  of  entire  ease.  This  petition  was  urged  in 
a  manner  so  entirely  in  contrast  with  all  his  former 
conduct,  as  to  excite  astonishment  in  the  commander, 
and  even  cause  belief  that  Arnold  was  in  jest.  In 
order,  therefore,  to  afford  him  an  opportunity  for  mili- 
tary display,  Washington  gave  him  command  of  the 
left  wing  in  the  main  army,  during  the  excursion  of 
Sir  Henry  Clinton  up  the  Hudson.  He  continued, 
however,  restless  and  dissatisfied,  alleging  inability  for 
active  duty  on  account  of  his  wounded  leg,  and  con- 
tinued his  application  for  West  Point.  His  request 
was  then  granted,  and,  in  the  summer  of  1780,  he  took 
command  of  that  important  station. 


296  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

Previous  to  this,  Sir  Henry  Clinton  had  received 
letters  through  his  aid,  Major  Andr6,  from  an  un- 
known correspondent,  conveying  important  informa- 
tion relative  to  the  American  forces.  After  much 
reflection,  he  became  convinced  that  the  writer  was 
no  other  than  General  Arnold.  This  conviction  was 
strengthened,  when,  upon  the  latter  taking  command 
at  West  Point,  Sir  Henry  received  a  proposal  to 
deliver  up  a  valuable  portion  of  the  American  army 
to  Great  Britain.  The  affair  had  now  assumed  a 
complexion  of  the  utmost  importance ;  and  though 
the  British  commander  managed  his  part  with  the 
utmost  secrecy,  yet  he  contrived  to  assure  himself 
beyond  doubt  that  his  correspondent  was  General 
Arnold. 

West  Point  was  at  that  time  the  most  important 
military  station  held  by  the  Americans.  Besides 
containing  a  large  amount  of  valuable  military  stores, 
provisions  and  vessels,  it  was  the  proposed  depot  of 
the  French  and  continental  armies  during  their  in- 
tended attack  upon  New  York,  and  the  key  of  com- 
munication between  the  Middle  and  Northern  States. 
It  also  commanded  the  navigation  of  the  Hudson. 
By  a  surrender  of  this  place  to  the  British  arms,  a 
fine  garrison  and  stores  would  be  lost,  the  attack 
upon  Sir  Henry  frustrated,  the  combination  between 
Washington  and  Rochambeau  rendered  ineffective, 
and  all  intercourse  with  the  north  made  hazardous 
if  not  impossible.  Accordingly,  Clinton  determined 
to  use  every  effort  in  order  to  accomplish  events  of 
so  much  magnitude. 

At  the   suggestion  of  Arnold,  Major  Andre"  was 


ARNOLD'S    TREASON.  297 

despatched  across  the  Hudson  for  the  purpose  of 
having  a  personal  interview  with  him,  and  arranging 
matters  which  could  only  be  hinted  at  under  the 
disguise  of  a  mercantile  correspondence.  On  the 
21st  of  September  he  was  conveyed  from  the  Vulture 
sloop-of-war  to  Arnold's  presence,  and  the  plot, 
together  with  the  necessary  plan  of  operations,  was 
matured.  The  conspirators  were  unable  to  finish 
the  conference  before  morning ;  and  in  the  meantime 
the  Vulture  was  obliged  to  change  its  position,  in 
consequence  of  being  fired  on  by  the  Americans. 
During  the  whole  of  the  22d,  therefore,  Andre"  re- 
mained on  the  American  side,  and  at  last  was 
totally  unable  to  obtain  conveyance  across  the  river. 
Arnold  then  furnished  him  with  a  passport  and 
horse,  in  order  to  reach  New  York  by  land,  con- 
cealing in  his  boots  important  papers  intended  for 
Sir  Henry  Clinton.  Leaving  behind  him  his  military 
coat,  and  accompanied  by  one  Smith,  who  had 
hitherto  been  the  dupe  of  Arnold's  proceedings,  he 
rode  to  King's  Ferry,  crossed  the  river  from  Stony 
Point  to  Verplanck's  Point,  and  pushed  on  toward  the 
White  Plains.  After  passing  several  parties,  Smith 
left  his  companion,  and  the  latter  pursued  his  journey 
alone.  Instead,  however,  of  pursuing  his  original 
route  across  the  White  Plains,  he  moved  off  toward 
the  Hudson  river,  and  entered  the  Tarrytown  road. 

The  region  in  which  Andre  was  now  travelling,  had 
lately  become  notorious  on  account  of  the  frequent 
plunderings  from  parties  on  both  sides,  which  left  no 
security  to  either  person  or  property.  Several  young 
men  had  been  on  the  alert  to  arrest  some  of  these 


298  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

marauders,  dividing  themselves  into  small  parties,  and 
remaining  concealed  among  the  woods  or  bushes. 
When  near  Tarrytown,  Andre  was  stopped  by  three 
of  these,  and  instead  of  immediately  showing  his  pass? 
he  commenced  a  hurried  conversation  with  them,  which 
resulted  in  his  capture.  The  particulars  of  this  affair 
were  given  in  their  subsequent  evidence  during  the 
trial  of  that  unfortunate  officer,  of  which  the  following 
are  extracts. 

"  Myself  (John  Paulding),  Isaac  Van  Wert,  and 
David  Williams,  were  lying  by  the  side  of  the  road 
about  half  a  mile  above  Tarrytown,  and  about  fifteen 
miles  above  King's  Bridge,  on  Saturday  morning 
between  nine  and  ten  o'clock,  the  23d  of  September. 
We  had  lain  there  about  an  hour  and  a  half,  as  near  as 
I  can  recollect,  and  saw  several  persons  we  were 
acquainted  with,  whom  we  let  pass.  Presently  one 
of  the  young  men  who  were  with  me  said,  '  There 
comes  a  gentlemanly-looking  man,  who  appears  to  be 
well  dressed,  and  has  boots  on,  and  whom  you  had 
better  step  out  and  stop,  if  you  don't  know  him.'  On 
that  I  got  up,  and  presented  my  firelock  at  the  breast 
of  the  person,  and  told  him  to  stand.  Then  I  asked 
him  which  way  he  was  going.  'Gentlemen,'  said  he, 
'I  hope  you  belong  to  our  party.'  I  asked  him  what 
party ;  and  he  replied,  '  The  lower.'  I  told  him  I  did, 
and  he  said,  'I  am  a  British  officer  out  of  the  country 
on  particular  business,  and  I  hope  you  will  not  detain 
me  a  minute.'  To  show  he  was  a  British  officer,  he 
pulled  out  his  watch,  when  I  told  him  to  dismount.  He 
then  said, '  My  God,  I  must  do  anything  to  get  along,' 
and  seemed  to  make  a  kind  of  laugh  of  it,  and  pulled 


ARNOLD'S    TREASON.  29? 


Capture   of   Andrfe. 


out  General  Arnold's  pass,  which  was  to  John  Ander- 
son, to  pass  all  guards  to  White  Plains,  and  below. 
Upon  that  he  dismounted.  Said  he, « Gentlemen,  you 
had  best  let  me  go,  or  you  will  bring  yourselves  into 
trouble ;  for  your  stopping  me  will  detain  the  general's 
business.  I  am  going  to  Dobb's  Ferry,  to  meet  a 
person  there,  and  get  intelligence  for  General  Arnold.' 
Upon  that  I  told  him  not  to  be  offended,  that  we  did 
not  mean  to  take  anything  from  him ;  and  I  told  him 
there  were  many  bad  people  going  along  the  road,  and 
I  did  not  know  but  perhaps  he  might  be  one." 

"  We  took  him  into  the  bushes,"  said  David  Wil- 
liams, in  his  evidence,  "  and  ordered  him  to  pull  off  his 
clothes,  which  he  did ;  but,  on  searching  him  narrowly, 
we  could  not  find  any  sort  of  writings.  We  told  him 


300  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

to  pull  off  his  boots,  which  he  seemed  to  be  indifferent 
about ;  but  we  got  one  boot  off,  and  searched  in  that 
boot,  and  could  find  nothing ;  but  we  found  that  there 
were  some  papers  in  the  bottom  of  his  stocking,  next 
to  his  foot,  on  which  we  made  him  pull  his  stocking 
off,  and  found  three  papers  wrapped  up.  Mr.  Paulding 
looked  at  the  contents,  and  said  he  was  a  spy.  We 
then  made  him  pull  off  his  other  boot,  and  there  we 
found  three  more  papers  at  the  bottom  of  his  foot, 
within  his  stocking. 

"Upon  this,  we  made  him  dress  himself,  and  I 
asked  him  what  he  would  give  us  to  let  him  go.  He 
said  he  would  give  us  any  sum  of  money.  I  asked 
him  whether  he  would  give  us  his  horse,  saddle,  bridle, 
watch,  and  one  hundred  guineas.  He  said,  'Yes ;'  and 
told  us  he  would  direct  them  to  any  place  that  we 
might  pitch  upon,  so  that  we  might  get  it.  Mr. 
Paulding  answered,  *  No !  if  you  would  give  us  ten 
thousand  guineas,  you  shall  not  stir  one  step.'  I  then 
asked  the  person  who  had  called  himself  John  Ander- 
son, if  he  would  not  get  away  if  it  lay  in  his  power, 
and  he  answered  that  he  would.  I  told  him  that  I  did 
not  intend  he  should.  While  taking  him  along,  we 
asked  him  a  few  questions,  and  we  stopped  under  a 
shade.  He  begged  us  not  to  ask  him  questions,  and 
said  when  he  would  come  to  any  commander  he  would 
reveal  all." 

There  can  be  little  doubt  that,  had  Andre  showed 
his  pass  immediately  on  being  arrested,  he  would  have 
been  permitted  to  continue  his  journey.  His  neglect 
to  do  so  will  appear  the  more  excusable,  when  we  re- 
member that  he  was  now  near  Clinton's  head-quarters, 


ARNOLD'S  TREASON.  301 

and  that  he  had  been  informed  on  the  previous  even- 
ing of  a  large  party  of  British  marauders  being  near 
Tarrytown ;  and,  in  consequence  of  this  very  informa- 
tion, he  had  changed  his  route  in  the  morning. 

Andre  was  conveyed  by  his  captors  to  North 
Castle,  where  a  party  of  dragoons  was  stationed  under 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Jameson.  The  six  papers  found 
about  his  person  were  also  delivered  to  that  officer. 
These  were  writings  of  the  utmost  importance,  de- 
fining the  force  and  positions  of  the  garrison ;  a  return 
of  the  different  forts,  batteries,  &c. ;  detached  sketches 
of  Washington's  designs  during  the  remainder  of  the 
campaign ;  with  other  valuable  information. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Jameson  acted  in  a  manner 
both  foolish  and  reprehensible.  The  captured  papers 
were  in  Arnold's  hand-writing,  with  which  he  was 
well  acquainted,  and  contained  most  indubitable 
marks  of  treachery;  yet  he  determined  to  send  his 
prisoner  to  Arnold,  together  with  a  letter,  detailing  the 
circumstances  of  his  arrest.  Washington  observed 
subsequently  that,  in  consequence  either  of  his  "  egre- 
gious folly,  or  bewildered  conception,  he  seemed  lost 
in  astonishment,  and  not  to  know  what  he  was  doing." 

Andre"  was  accordingly  despatched  towards  West 
Point ;  while  the  papers  found  about  his  person,  were 
sent  by  express  to  General  Washington.  Immediately 
after  the  departure  of  the  prisoner,  Major  Tallmadge, 
second  in  command,  arrived  at  North  Castle,  from  an 
excursion  to  White  Plains ;  and  on  being  informed  of 
what  had  transpired,  expressed  his  utter  astonishment  at 
the  conduct  of  his  superior.  The  representations  of 
the  major  had  no  other  effect  with  Jameson,  than  the 
26 


302  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

obtaining  of  an  order  for  Andre's  return  to  North 
Castle ;  yet  the  notice  to  Arnold  was  still  permitted  to 
proceed. 

Andre"  was  brought  back  to  Jameson's  quarters 
before  daylight  of  the  following  morning.  It  was  de- 
termined to  send  him  to  Lower  Salem,  a  place  of 
greater  security  than  North  Castle,  and  the  head-quar- 
ters of  Colonel  Sheldon.  He  was  escorted  by  Major 
Tallmadge,  and  on  arriving  at  the  colonel's  station, 
requested  permission  to  write  a  letter  to  General 
Washington.  In  this  he  declared  his  real  name  and 
station,  gave  the  reasons  of  his  being  within  the  Amer- 
ican lines,  with  the  circumstances  of  his  capture,  and 
asked  permission  to  write  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton.  Not 
a  word  was  said  of  Arnold,  or  that  could  in  the  least 
involve  any  one  in  the  conspiracy.  Before  folding  the 
letter,  he  presented  it  to  Major  Tallmadge,  who  perused 
it  with  the  strongest  emotion.  The  first  sight  of  Andre" 
had  convinced  him  of  his  being  a  military  man ;  but  he 
had  not  imagined  him  to  be  an  officer  of  such  high  rank. 
His  former  suspicions  of  Arnold's  fidelity  were  now 
strengthened,  and  the  folly  of  Colonel  Jameson  rendered 
more  inexplicable  than  ever.  Jameson's  want  of 
sagacity  was  the  the  first  cause  of  Arnold's  escape ; 
but  there  were  several  others,  and  indeed,  so  fortu- 
nately did  circumstances  combine  in  his  favour,  as  to 
appear  little  less  than  miraculous.  On  the  24th 
of  September,  General  Washington  arrived  within 
eighteen  miles  of  West  Point,  and  after  stopping  to 
partake  of  some  refreshment,  rode  forward  until  within 
three  miles  of  Arnold's  head-quarters.  Here  he  unex- 
pectedly met  with  the  French  minister,  Monsieur  de  la 


ARNOLD'S    TREASON.  303 

Luzerne,  who  prevailed  on  him  to  return  to  his  place 
of  stoppage  (Fishkill),  for  the  purpose  of  laying 
before  him  matters  of  importance.  This  prevented 
him  from  reaching  West  Point  that  evening,  as  he  had 
intended. 

On  the  following  morning,  Washington,  accom- 
panied by  La  Fayette,  and  other  officers,  set  out  for 
Arnold's  quarters;  but  on  the  road  the  commander 
seems  to  have  changed  his  mind,  and  turned  his  horse 
toward  the  river.  Thinking  this  to  be  a  mistake, 
La  Fayette  said,  "  General,  you  are  going  in  a  wrong 
direction  j  you  know  Mrs.  Arnold  is  waiting  breakfast 
for  us,  and  that  road  will  take  us  out  of  our  way." 
Washington  replied  in  a  playful  manner,  stating  that 
he  wished  to  see  the  redoubts  on  the  river,  but  gave 
the  party  permission  to  proceed  to  Arnold's  station. 
This  they  declined,  and  accompanied  the  general, 
after  sending  two  aids  to  apprise  their  host  of  the 
change  of  intention. 

Slight  as  was  this  incident,  it  probably  saved 
Arnold.  While  his  family  and  the  two  aids  were  at 
breakfast,  Jameson's  letter  arrived,  giving  the  stunning 
intelligence  of  Andrews  capture.  It  was  a  moment  of 
terrible  feeling ;  yet,  so  perfectly  was  Arnold  master 
of  himself,  that  while  reading  it  he  betrayed  no 
unusual  excitement.  Informing  the  aids  that  a 
sudden  and  unexpected  event  required  his  presence  at 
West  Point,  he  rose  hastily  from  the  table,  ordered  a 
horse,  and  retired  to  Mrs.  Arnold's  apartment.  He 
then  sent  for  her,  and  revealed  the  plot,  telling  her 
they  must  part  for  ever,  since  his  life  depended  on  his 
escape  to  the  enemy.  She  immediately  fainted ;  but, 


REVOLUTIONARY  WAR. 

reckless  of  everything  in  the  wild  hurry  for  life,  he 
left  her  senseless,  rushed  from  the  house,  mounted  his 
horse,  and  dashed  toward  the  Hudson.  Here  he 
found  a  boat  containing  six  men,  whom  he  ordered  to 
row  as  for  life,  telling  them  that  he  was  bearing  a 
flag  of  truce,  and  wished  to  get  back  in  time  to  meet 
General  Washington.  By  displaying  a  white  hand- 
kerchief, Arnold  escaped  the  suspicions  of  both 
British  and  Americans,  and  reached  the  Vulture  in 
safety.  He  was  mean  and  cruel  enough  to  detain  as 
prisoners  the  men  to  whom  he  owed  his  life;  but 
on  their  arrival  at  New  York,  they  were  set  at 
liberty  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton. 

Meanwhile,  Washington  arrived  at  Arnold's  house ; 
and  ascertaining  that  he  had  gone  to  West  Point, 
he  hurried  breakfast,  and,  accompanied  by  all  the 
officers  except  Hamilton,  set  out  for  the  fort.  As  he 
drew  near  the  shore  with  his  barge,  the  officers  ex- 
pected to  hear  Arnold's  cannon  by  way  of  salute ; 
but  all  was  silent.  Their  astonishment  was  increased 
when  the  commandant  hurried  to  the  shore,  and 
began  to  apologize  for  not  making  any  preparations 
to  receive  such  distinguished  visitors,  as  he  had  been 
totally  ignorant  of  their  approach.  "How  is  this, 
sir?"  replied  Washington;  "is  not  General  Arnold 
here  ?"  "  No,  sir ;  he  has  not  been  here  these  two 
days,  nor  have  I  heard  from  him  within  that  time." 
Astonished  at  this  unexpected  intelligence,  Wash- 
ington entered  the  fort,  and  though  evidently  waiting 
for  Arnold,  commenced  a  review  of  the  works.  After 
spending  more  than  an  hour  in  this  manner,  he  re- 
entered  the  barge,  and  set  out  for  Robinson's  house. 


ARNOLD'S   TREASON.  305 

On  the  way  they  were  met  by  Hamilton,  who  took 
the  commander  aside,  and  spoke  to  him  in  a  quick 
hurried  tone.  Those  few  hurried  words  were  of  fearful 
power,  fraught  with  the  news  of  Arnold's  treason. 

The  bearer  of  Jameson's  despatches  had  missed 
Washington,  in  consequence  of  the  latter  changing 
his  route.  On  reaching  Robinson's  house  he  handed 
them  to  Colonel  Hamilton,  with  the  remark  that  they 
contained  intelligence  of  the  utmost  importance. 
That  officer  opened  them,  and,  on  discovering  their 
contents,  rode  immediately  to  meet  the  commander. 

On  perusing  the  papers,  Washington  ordered 
Hamilton  to  ride  with  all  haste  to  Verplanck's  Point, 
to  arrest  Arnold,  if  possible,  before  he  could  cross 
the  river ;  and  then  calling  La  Fayette  and  Knox,  he 
calmly  disclosed  to  them  the  conspiracy,  merely  re- 
marking— "  Whom  can  we  trust  now  ?"  The  same 
dignity  and  forbearance  characterized  him  throughout 
the  day.  When  dinner  was  announced,  he  took  the 
head  of  the  table,  and  said — "  Come,  gentlemen ; 
since  Mrs.  Arnold  is  unwell,  and  the  general  is 
absent,  let  us  sit  down  without  ceremony." 

Meanwhile,  the  situation  of  Mrs.  Arnold  was  truly 
deplorable.  "  For  a  considerable  time,"  says  Hamilton, 
"  she  entirely  lost  herself.  The  general  (Washington) 
went  to  see  her,  and  she  upbraided  him  with  being 
in  a  plot  to  murder  her  child.  One  moment  she 
raved,  and  then  she  melted  into  tears.  Sometimes 
she  pressed  her  infant  to  her  bosom,  and  lamented  its 
fate,  occasioned  by  the  imprudence  of  its  father,  in  a 
manner  that  would  have  pierced  insensibility  itself. 
All  the  sweetness  of  beauty,  all  the  loveliness  of 
26*  u 


306  REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 

innocence,  all  the  tenderness  of  a  wife,  and  all  the 
fondness  of  a  mother,  showed  themselves  in  her 
appearance  and  conduct.  We  have  every  reason  to 
believe  that  she  was  entirely  unacquainted  with  the 
plan,  and  that  the  first  knowledge  of  it  was  when 
Arnold  went  to  tell  her  he  must  banish  himself  from 
his  country,  and  from  her,  for  ever.  She  instantly  fell 
into  convulsions,  and  he  left  her  in  that  situation.'* 

The  arrest  of  Andre  entirely  frustrated  the  conspi- 
racy ;  and  though  Arnold  made  good  his  escape,  and 
everything  was  in  readiness  for  an  immediate  attack 
upon  West  Point,  yet  far  from  attempting  it,  the 
British  commander  turned  his  whole  attention  to  the 
safety  of  his  friend.  Hamilton  received  a  letter  from 
Arnold  to  Washington,  boasting  of  his  rectitude  of  in- 
tention, and  requesting  that  Mrs.  Arnold  might  be  at- 
tended to.  It  was  accompanied  by  another  from 
one  Beverly  Robinson,  on  board  the  Vulture,  request- 
ing the  release  of  Andre". 

After  writing  to  Greene  to  advance  with  the  left 
wing  of  the  army,  and  taking  other  precautionary 
measures,  orders  were  sent  to  Colonel  Jameson  to 
despatch  Andre  to  Robinson's  house.  He  arrived  there 
on  the  26th  of  September,  under  the  care  of  Major 
Tallmadge,  having  travelled  all  night  through  a  heavy 
rain.  He  was  subsequently  removed  to  Tappan. 

On  the  29th,  Washington  summoned  a  court  of  in- 
quiry, to  investigate  the  subject  of  Andrews  capture, 
and  report  their  opinion  concerning  him.  It  was  com- 
posed of  six  major-generals,  eight  brigadiers,  and 
General  Greene  as  president.  All  necessary  docu- 
ments were  laid  before  them,  and  every  effort  made 


ARNOLD'S   TREASON.  307 

by  the  commander-in-chief  to  insure  a  correct  and 
unbiassed  verdict. 

After  the  names  of  the  officers  had  been  read  to 
him,  Andre"  was  informed  that  it  was  optional  with 
him  to  answer  any  question  which  might  be  asked,  and 
that  he  might  have  his  own  time  to  reflect  upon  them. 
After  having  acknowledged  the  identity  of  certain 
papers  with  those  found  about  his  person  when 
captured,  and  also  given  the  board  a  short  account  of 
the  circumstances  attending  his  landing  from  the 
Vulture,  he  was  asked  whether  he  considered  himself 
as  having  acted  under  a  flag.  He  replied  that  it  was 
"impossible  for  him  to  suppose,  that  he  came  on 
shore  under  the  sanction  of  a  flag,"  adding,  "  that  if  he 
came  on  shore  under  that  sanction,  he  might  certainly 
have  returned  under  it."  His  whole  behaviour 
throughout  the  investigation  was  open,  dignified,  and 
manly;  he  offered  no  excuse,  not  even  a  palliating 
remark  for  his  conduct;  and  on  being  asked  at  the 
close  if  he  had  anything  to  remark,  he  replied  in  the 
negative.  The  hearing  was  long  and  tedious,  and 
after  a  careful  summary  of  all  the  facts  presented  to 
them,  the  board  arrived  at  the  conclusion  "  that  Major 
Andre",  adjutant-general  to  the  British  army,  ought 
to  be  considered  as  a  spy  from  the  enemy,  and  that 
agreeably  to  the  laws  and  usages  of  nations,  it  is 
their  opinion  he  ought  to  suffer  death."  In  this 
opinion  Washington  concurred,  and  appointed  five 
o'clock,  P.  M.,  October  1st,  as  the  time  of  execution. 

On  that  day,  however,  a  last  effort  was  made  by 
Sir  Henry  Clinton  to  save  his  friend.  He  informed 
Washington  that  a  committee  of  gentlemen  would 


308  REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 

be  sent  from  the  army  to  confer  with  him,  and 
present  facts  to  prove  the  major's  innocence.  Only  one 
of  these  deputies  (General  Robertson),  was  permitted 
to  come  on  shore.  He  was  met  by  General  Greene  on 
the  part  of  Washington,  every  exertion  was  made  to 
prove  that  Andre"  was  not  a  spy,  and  to  influence  the 
feelings  of  the  American  commissioner  in  his  behalf. 
A  letter  was  presented  from  Arnold  to  General  Wash- 
ington, and  Robertson  further  offered  to  refer  the 
decision  of  Andrews  true  position  to  General  Knyp- 
hausen  and  Count  Rochambeau.  Greene  listened 
with  the  deepest  attention,  promising  to  lay  these 
views  before  General  Washington;  and  Robertson 
seems  to  have  believed  that  he  had  effected  his  pur- 
pose, as  he  immediately  wrote  to  Clinton  that  Andre 
would  not  be  harmed.  In  the  morning  he  was  stunned 
by  the  intelligence  from  Greene,  that  after  weighing 
the  facts  presented  during  the  conversation,  Washing- 
ton's opinion  was  still  unchanged. 

All  efforts  to  ameliorate  Andre's  fate  having  failed, 
he  was  executed  on  the  2d  of  October,  1780.  In  the 
morning  he  received  the  communication  of  his  fate 
without  emotion,  and  while  all  present  were  affected 
with  gloom,  his  mind  was  composed,  and  his  counte- 
nance firm.  When  his  servant  entered  in  tears,  he 
exclaimed,  "  Leave  me,  till  you  can  show  yourself 
more  manly."  His  breakfast  being  sent  him  from 
Washington's  table,  as  had  been  done  every  day  of 
his  confinement,  he  partook  of  it  as  usual,  and  having 
shaved  and  dressed  himself,  he  said  to  the  guard  offi- 
cers, "  I  am  ready  at  any  moment,  gentlemen,  to  wait 
on  you."  He  then  walked  from  the  house,  arm  in  arm 


ARNOLD'S    TREASON.  309 

with  two  subaltern  officers.  A  large  detachment 
of  troops  was  paraded,  amid  an  immense  concourse 
of  people. 

Nearly  all  the  general  and  field-officers  were  present 
on  horseback,  except  General  Washington  and  staff. 
Gloom  and  melancholy  pervaded  all  ranks,  and  the 
scene  was  deeply  affecting.  The  major  betrayed  no 
want  of  fortitude,  retaining  a  complacent  countenance, 
and  occasionally  bowing  to  gentlemen  whom  he  knew. 
The  method  of  his  death  had  been  concealed  from 
him  until  the  last  moment ;  for  although  in  a  touching 
letter  he  had  requested  to  be  shot,  yet  Washington 
wished  not  to  wound  his  feelings  by  informing  him 
the  request  could  not  be  granted.  When  in  sight  of 
the  gallows,  he  involuntarily  started;  but  recovered 
himself,  with  the  remark — "  I  am  reconciled  to  my 
death,  but  I  detest  the  mode."  While  stepping  into 
the  wagon,  he  appeared  to  falter  for  a  moment ;  but 
suddenly  rallying  himself,  he  exclaimed,  "  It  will  be 
but  a  momentary  pang ;"  and  taking  from  his  pocket 
two  white  handkerchiefs,  he  tied  one  over  his  eyes, 
and  permitted  his  hands  to  be  pinioned  with  the 
other.  The  rope  being  appended  to  the  gallows,  he 
slipped  the  noose  over  his  head,  and  adjusted  it  to 
his  neck  without  the  aid  of  the  executioner.  Colonel 
Scammel  now  informed  him  that  he  had  an  oppor- 
tunity to  speak ;  when,  raising  the  bandage  from  his 
eyes,  he  said — "  I  pray  you  to  bear  me  witness,  that 
I  meet  my  fate  like  a  brave  man !" — then,  readjusting 
the  handkerchief,  the  wagon  was  removed,  and  after 
a  momentary  pang  the  gallant  and  accomplished 
Andre  was  no  more. 


310  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

At  his  death  Major  Andre  was  about  twenty-nine 
years  of  age,  well-proportioned,  tall,  and  graceful,  with 
a  countenance  indicative  of  amiability  and  intelligence. 
His  talents  were  of  a  highly  respectable  order,  and 
being  cultivated  in  early  life,  he  had  become  proficient 
in  literary  and  other  attainments.  As  an  officer  he  was 
skilful,  brave,  and  enterprising,  and  is  reported  to  have 
been  humane  to  the  American  prisoners  in  New  York. 
The  main  spring  of  his  actions,  the  sole  object  of  his 
youthful  aspirations,  was  military  glory ;  and  he  was 
advancing  rapidly  in  the  gratification  of  his  ambitious 
views,  when  a  misguided  zeal  blasted  all  prospects,  and 
stained  him  as  the  victim  of  a  traitor's  guile.  The 
heart  of  sensibility  mourns  when  a  life  of  so  much 
worth  is  sacrificed  on  a  gibbet ;  yet  was  it  in  strict 
accordance  with  the  laws  of  war,  by  which  every  spy 
is  doomed  to  the  gallows. 

The  circumstances  attending  the  entrance  of 
Andre  into  the  army,  heightens  the  sympathy  oc- 
casioned by  his  fate.  In  early  life  he  had  become 
enamoured  of  a  young  lady,  who  returned  his  affection, 
and  agreed  upon  marriage.  This,  however,  was  frus- 
trated by  the  opposition  of  her  father,  and  four  years 
afterward  she  married  with  another  gentleman.  This 
was  a  terrible  blow  to  Andre".  He  had  ever  kept  her 
picture  about  his  person,  and  hoped  that  time  would 
at  length  unite  them;  but  now  his  happiness  was 
blasted  for  ever,  and  he  resolved  to  join  the  army.  In 
1775  he  was  taken  prisoner  by  Montgomery,  at  St. 
John's,  and  deprived  of  everything  except  the  picture 
of  his  Honora,  executed  by  his  own  hand,  and  which 
he  concealed  in  his  mouth.  He  met  with  various 


ARNOLD'S   TREASON. 


311 


adventures,  until  exchanged,  when  he  joined  the  family 
of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  by  whom  he  was  greatly  es- 
teemed. While  awaiting  execution,  he  requested  of 
Sir  Henry  Clinton  that  his  commission  might  be  sold, 
for  the  benefit  of  his  mother  and  sisters.  This  was 
immediately  done  by  his  friend,  who  also  petitioned 
the  king  in  the  most  faithful  manner,  that  something 
further  might  be  granted  to  these  bereaved  relatives. 
The  monarch  granted  a  pension  to  his  parent,  and  the 
order  of  knighthood  to  his  mother. 

Arnold  received  the  stipulated  reward  of  his 
treachery,  being  appointed  colonel  of  a  regiment  in  the 
British  service  with  the  rank  of  brigadier-general,  and 
receiving  six  thousand  three  hundred  and  fifty  pounds 
sterling. 


Captain   Bid  die. 


THE  LOSS  OF  THE  RANDOLPH. 

HE  name  of  Capt.  Nicholas 
Biddle  will  ever  stand  con- 
spicuous on  our  military 
journals,  not  only  as  that 
of  a  man  among  the  first 
of  our  patriotic  seamen, 
but  as  distinguished  alike 
for  his  brilliant  successes, 


iSi* " 


57$ 

-Vj  '  ••>;;:• 

U 


LOSS   OF    THE   RANDOLPH.  315 

and  his  tragic  end.  During  the  early  part  of  the 
Revolution,  he  performed  the  greatest  service  in  cap- 
turing British  merchantmen ;  and  for  the  rapidity  and 
success  with  which  he  managed  all  such  affairs,  he 
had  acquired  a  decided  superiority  among  all  our 
naval  officers. 

In  February,  1777,  he  sailed  from  Charleston  with 
three  hundred  and  five  men,  in  the  frigate  Randolph, 
of  thirty-six  guns,  and  accompanied  by  the  smaller 
vessels  Polly,  Fair  American,  General  Moultrie,  and 
Notre  Dame.  On  the  evening  of  the  7th  of  March, 
he  was  descried  by  the  British  ship  Yarmouth,  of 
seventy-four  guns,  commanded  by  Captain  Vincent. 
At  nine  o'clock  the  latter  cartie  up  with  the  Randolph; 
and  ordered  her  to  hoist  colors,  or  he  would  firec 
Biddle  ran  up  the  American  flag,  and  poured  a  broad- 
side into  his  enemy,  which  was  immediately  returned. 
The  stirring  scene  of  a  naval  action  by  night  now 
commenced.  Not  knowing  the  strength  of  his  ad- 
versary, Captain  Biddle  poured  forth  one  broadside 
after  another  of  heavy  ordnance,  which  the  British 
commander,  confident  of  victory,  answered.  It  was 
a  sight  wild  and  imposing.  The  thick,  curtain-like 
darkness,  would  suddenly  be  broken  by  a  quick  sheet 
of  flame,  then  a  dazzling  meteor  flew  from  ship  to 
ship,  sparkling  and  whizzing  in  the  air,  and  then 
crashing  through  masts,  spars,  and  timber.  The 
surges  dashed  and  foamed  under  the  stunning  reports, 
and  each  vessel  reeled  heavily  amid  the  pitchy  night. 
Then  one  low,  stifled  wail  would  come  riding  through 
the  interim  of  confusion,  with  a  strange  unearthly 


316  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

tone,  that  jarred  discordantly  with  the  uproar  of 
battle. 

Soon  after  the  commencement  of  the  action, 
Captain  Biddle  was  wounded  in  the  leg.  Instead  of 
retiring,  he  called  for  a  chair,  and  seating  himself 
amid  the  havoc  around,  exhorted  his  men  to  their 
duty.  Nobly  did  they  fulfil  it.  Three  broadsides 
were  fired  by  the  Randolph  to  one  of  the  Yarmouth, 
and  during  the  greater  part  of  the  action  she  appeared 
in  an  entire  blaze.  For  a  few  minutes  the  captain 
and  crew  of  the  Fair  American  believed  that  the 
enemy  were  on  fire,  and  bore  down  to  salute  their 
commander. 

This  brilliant  commencement  was  succeeded  by  a 
fearful  end.  The  Randolph  blew  up  with  an  explosion 
that  shook  the  air  for  miles  around,  scattering  deck, 
spars,  and  mangled  limbs,  far  abroad  among  the 
waters.  Of  that  gallant  captain  and  his  crew  nothing 
more  was  ever  seen.  Four  men  clung  to  a  piece  of 
wreck,  on  which  they  floated  for  four  days,  subsisting 
on  rain-water,  which  they  sucked  from  a  piece  of 
blanket.  These  men  were  picked  up  by  Captain 
Vincent,  and  treated  by  him  with  the  greatest  at- 
tention and  kindness. 

The  Yarmouth  was  so  much  injured  in  the  action, 
as  to  be  unable  to  pursue  the  small  ships  of  the 
squadron,  which  accordingly  made  their  escape. 

Captain  Biddle  was  twenty-seven  years  old  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  and  had  given  ample  promise  of 
one  day  becoming  a  bright  ornament  to  his  profession. 
Notwithstanding  his  disparity  of  force,  he  would  pro- 


LOSS   OF    THE    RANDOLPH. 


317 


bably  have  escaped,  but  for  the  unfortunate  explosion; 
for  the  British  ship  was  in  a  shattered  condition  at  the 
close  of  the  action.  But  one  of  the  other  ships  took 
an  active  part,  and  it  was  placed  in  so  unfavourable  a 
position  as  to  inflict  as  much  injury  upon  the  Ran- 
dolph, as  upon  her  adversary. 


THE  BRITISH  PRISON-SHIPS. 

T|r  N  many  instances  during  their 
wars  with  the  United  States, 
the  British  have  behaved  with 
a  degree  of  cruelty  and  ferocity, 
which  must  ever  stamp  their 
character  with  a  heartlessness, 
suitable  only  for  the  savage. 
This  was  the  case,  in  an  especial  manner,  during  the 
revolutionary  contest,  when  they  considered  themselves 
warring  against  rebel  mobs,  entitled  to  no  respect  and 
no  quarter.  Even  when  the  stormy  battle  had  rolled 
by,  and  the  passions  had  had  time  to  subside,  the  ran- 
cour of  established  malice  broke  forth  upon  the  unfor- 
tunate ones,  whom  the  vicissitudes  of  war  had  placed 


BRITISH   PRISON-SHIPS.  321 

in  their  hands.  In  all  countries  and  armies,  prisoners 
of  war  have  a  just  claim  on  the  duties  of  humanity. 
From  the  moment  of  their  capture,  the  sword  should 
be  sheathed ;  hostilities  should  cease.  Being  them- 
selves disarmed,  no  arm  can  of  right  be  lifted  against 
them  j  but  while  they  conduct  themselves  in  a  manner 
becoming  their  condition,  they  are  entitled  to  lenient 
treatment,  and  every  necessary  comfort. 

To  obtain  a  correct  idea  of  the  situation  of  the 
prisoners  in  British  ships,  we  must  imagine  them  torn 
from  home,  from  the  felicity  of  health,  comfort,  and 
domestic  enjoyment,  in  the  very  prime  of  life,  and 
when  the  mind  was  buoyant  with  wild  dreams  of  hope 
and  ambition.  They  had  gazed  on  the  prospect  of 
liberty,  on  the  blessings  it  would  bestow  upon  their 
trampled  country,  until  the  fervour  of  patriotism 
thrilled  their  bosoms ;  and  they  rushed  to  the  battle- 
field in  order  to  wrestle  and  suffer  for  the  glorious 
treasure.  They  were  the  men  who  had  sternly  faced 
death  at  Lexington  and  Concord,  and  drove  back  the 
emissaries  of  oppression  before  their  withering  fire. 
But  the  price  of  victory  was  to  be  paid.  They  were 
captured,  one  by  one,  party  by  party,  some  at  Boston, 
some  at  their  homes,  and  others  by  the  quiet  road- 
side. They  were  eagerly  seized  by  the  minions  of  Bri- 
tain, and  hurried  to  General  Howe,  at  New  York.  Here 
every  sympathy  turned  from  them.  Friends  who  had 
smiled  in  happier  hours  now  frowned  with  scornful  ven- 
geance ;  and  a  traitor's  name,  precursor  of  a  traitor's 
fate,  followed  their  weary  journey.  Without  trial  or 
hearing,  they  were  packed  in  the  holds  of  vessels,  pri- 
sons of  the  vilest  of  the  vile,  of  the  felon  and  midnight 


322  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

assassin.  The  atmosphere  of  these  awful  abodes, 
thick  and  dark  with  stagnation,  and  blazing  with  the 
fires  of  dissolution,  insinuated  itself  among  the  delicate 
textures  of  vitality,  and  at  the  first  inspiration  blasted 
health  and  spirits.  Here,  amid  utter  darkness,  com- 
pany after  company  of  those  brave  young  spirits,  the 
unfortunate  defenders  of  their  country's  liberty,  were 
crowded,  and  the  doors  closed.  Then  arose  a  scene 
at  which  humanity  shudders.  Accustomed  to  active 
movements  in  the  open  air,  some  sank  at  once  amid 
heaps  of  putrefaction,  and  expired.  Others  crowded 
and  crushed  toward  the  air-holes,  withering  their  last 
energies  in  fruitless  efforts.  Some  sat  down  and  wept ; 
while  in  another  place  a  convict  would  smile  in  demo- 
niac despair  at  the  vain  exertions  which  he  himself 
had  so  often  tested.  In  a  few  hours  disease  and  fever 
commenced  their  work,  and  the  sufferings  were  terrible 
beyond  description.  Here  and  there  were  wretches 
moaning  for  water,  while  shrieks,  imprecations,  and 
the  bowlings  of  agony,  mingled  in  one  frightful  uproar. 
Amid  the  dead  and  dying,  a  few  bowed  down  their 
heads  and  wept  for  home ;  and  then  that  same  deep 
meaning  word  of  home  came  wildly  out  amid  the 
ravings  of  the  maniac.  Hearts  that  had  nerved  up 
against  all  suffering  until  that  word  was  pronounced, 
now  were  crushed  and  broken.  Gradually  they  sank 
down,  the  dying  and  the  dead  together.  In  the  last 
wild  struggle  with  death,  the  groaning  spirit  prayed 
and  agonized  for  one  gasp  of  air,  one  ray  of  light. 
The  wretch  tossed  and  foamed  amid  putrid  bodies, 
while  suffocation  stifled  his  utterance,  and  the  fevered 
blood  tore  and  rattled  along  his  shattered  lungs.  Afar 


BRITISH   PRISON-SHIPS.  323 

from  this  scene  the  cheering  heavens  were  making  to 
the  giddy  world  the  changes  of  night  and  day ;  but  no 
night,  no  day  visited  the  American  sufferers.  For 
seventy-five  hours  many  lay  in  those  charnel-houses 
amid  every  variety  of  misery,  without  having  one  drop 
of  water  or  a  particle  of  bread.  In  a  few  weeks  fifteen 
hundred  died.  Their  bodies  were  dragged  from  the 
ships,  and  placed  in  piles,  each  about  large  enough  to 
fill  a  cart.  One  pile  after  another  was  dragged  away, 
thrown  into  ditches,  and  covered  with  mud  and  offal. 
Over  that  grave  no  sister  was  present  to  weep,  nor 
clergyman  to  dedicate  the  soul  to  heaven.  Youth  and 
manliness,  and  early  pride,  and  the  high  throbbings 
of  manhood's  early  dream,  were  there  buried  in  dis- 
grace, and  buried  for  ever,  because  they  had  been 
devoted  to  freedom. 

For  want  of  opportunity,  some  of  the  prisoners 
were  not  treated  quite  so  rigorously.  There  being  a 
scarcity  of  prison-ships,  these  were  placed  in  ruined 
churches,  dilapidated  dwellings,  and  open  sugar- 
houses  ;  where,  in  consequence  of  the  deficiency  of 
roofing,  it  was  impossible  to  deprive  them  of  fresh 
air.  Still,  without  fire,  and  almost  without  clothing, 
they  were  exposed  to  piercing  cold,  heavy  rains, 
hunger  and  thirst.  These  bodily  sufferings  were 
augmented  by  the  insult  and  tantalization  of  British 
officers,  who  pronounced  them  the  just  punishment 
of  rebellion.  These  honourable  assurances  were 
seconded  by  the  tories,  whose  common  language  was : 
"  You  have  not  yet  received  all  you  deserve,  nor  half 
you  shall  receive ;  but  if  you  will  enlist  in  his 
majesty's  service,  you  shall  have  victuals  and  clothing 


324 


REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 


enough."    In  one  instance,  four  wounded  American 

o 

officers  of  respectable  rank  were  placed  in  a  common 
cart,  and  paraded  through  the  streets  as  objects  of 
derision,  amid  the  jeers  of  the  beholders. 

Such  were  the  sufferings  of  the  American  captives 
in  the  commencement  of  the  struggle  for  independence. 
Menaced  by  hostile  armies,  and  threatened  with  the 
halter,  they  rose  to  maintain  their  rights.  Citizens 
as  they  were,  they  commenced  their  preparation  for  a 
campaign  on  the  battle-field;  and,  after  rolling  back  the 
enemy,  prepared  to  follow  up  their  victory.  When 
captured,  they  were  offered  life  and  affluence  to  forsake 
their  cause ;  but  scornfully  refused,  and  marched  to 
prison  and  slavery  with  proud  independence.  The 
sequel  has  been  told.  Now  no  monumental  epitaph 
marks  their  graves,  nor  have  even  their  names  been 
handed  to  us.  Yet  with  them  were  buried  the  hopes 
and  happiness  of  families,  the  long-cherished  ex- 
pectations of  parents  and  relatives ;  and  their  fearful 
sufferings  have  stamped  their  oppressors  with  ever- 
lasting infamy. 


Commodore   Jones. 


CAPTURE  OF  THE  SERAPIS. 


N  the  17th  of  September, 
1778,  Commodore  Paul 
Jones,  with  the  two  ves- 
sels, Bon  Homme  Richard, 
and  Pallas,  came  in  sight 
of  a  fleet  of  merchantmen, 
escorted  by  the  Serapis, 
and  Countess  of  Scarbo- 
rough. At  seven  in  the  evening,  after  a  tedious 

28 


326  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

chase,  Jones,  in  the  Bon  Homme  Richard,  was  hailed 
by  the  commander  of  the  Serapis,  when  within  pistol- 
shot,  and  immediately  answered  by  a  whole  broadside. 
He  then  ran  his  ship  across  the  enemy's  bow,  seized 
the  bowsprit  with  his  own  hands,  and  lashed  both 
vessels  together.  Sails,  yards,  rigging,  all  became 
eventually  entangled,  and  the  opposing  cannon  touched 
each  others'  muzzles.  In  that  fearful  position  was 
fought  one  of  the  most  terrible  battles  on  naval 
record. 

The  batteries  of  each  vessel  now  opened.  Red- 
hot  iron  flew  through  and  through  the  hulls,  tearing 
everything  in  their  maddening  course.  The  water 
broke  and  dashed  around  them,  and  then  rolled  off 
in  glittering  waves,  until  lost  in  the  surrounding  dark- 
ness. But,  like  the  hurried  shock  of  two  thunder- 
clouds, those  ships  clung  to  each  other,  pouring  sheets 
of  widening  flame  along  their  sides,  and  strewing  each 
deck  with  mangled  victims.  One  by  one  the  Ameri- 
can batteries  became  useless,  until  but  three  cannon 
were  fit  for  service.  Every  gun  of  the  British  was  in 
full  blast.  But  the  iron  heart  of  the  bold  sailor  could 
not  yield.  Pacing  on  deck,  from  point  to  point,  ho 
shouted  his  men  to  their  duty.  Showers  of  death 
were  shrieking  around  him,  and  spar  after  spar  went 
down  in  crashing  ruin.  Yet  still,  over  all  that  uproar, 
and  over  the  groans  of  agony,  and  thunder  of  battle, 
his  voice  pealed  like  a  spectre's,  and  sternly  bound 
his  men  to  duty.  The  waves  were  rushing  in  at 
every  seam,  until  the  pumps  were  useless,  and  then 
one  appalling  cry  of  fire,  told  that  long  resistance  was 
impossible.  Jones  gazed  around.  On  every  side 


CAPTtJRE    OF    THE    SERAPIS.  329 

smothered  flames  were  struggling  to  break  forth. 
Yet  on,  on,  like  a  fretted  tiger,  he  spurned  along  that 
shattered  deck,  his  arms  folded,  his  face  like  rigid 
iron,  and  his  stern  shout  ringing  fearfully  through  the 
darkness.  Once  only  did  he  pause.  Three  under 
officers,  overcome  by  the  awful  scene,  had  called  to 
the  British  commander,  who  now  demanded  if  Jones 
had  struck.  "  No,"  was  the  response ;  and  the  conflict 
reopened. 

During  all  this  time,  the  soft  rays  of  the  full  moon 
were  sleeping  on  the  rippling  water,  mellowing  every- 
thing beneath  their  silvery  shroud.  Hundreds  and 
thousands  of  spectators  gazed  in  breathless  and  struck 
wonder,  at  the  uproar  on  the  waters ;  men  of  ordinary 
mould  grew  pale  and  nervous,  at  the  spirit-like  wres- 
tlings of  giant  souls. 

At  half  past  nine  o'clock,  another  ship  hove  in  sight. 
It  was  the  Alliance,  a  vessel  lately  deserted  from  Jones's 
squadron.  Joy  was  diffused  over  the  gallant  crew — 
but  it  was  of  short  duration.  A  broadside  came  rush- 
ing over  the  waters,  splitting  and  rending  the  stern  ofj 
Jones's  vessel.  He  called  to  them  for  God's  sake  to 
forbear ;  but  the  false  one  swept  like  lightning  through 
the  waters,  hurling  shot  after  shot  at  the  devoted  ship, 
killing  and  wounding  the  men,  and  opening  leaks  in 
every  direction.  Cries  of  fear  and  despair  rose  from 
the  little  crew ;  the  master  at  arms  turned  loose  all  the 
prisoners ;  and  the  officers  crowded  around  their  com- 
mander, praying  him  to  surrender.  But  with  startling 
energy  he  stamped  on  the  burning  deck,  and  ordered 
each  man  to  his  post.  Then  the  calmness  of  sub- 
dued energy  returned,  his  voice  again  rang  out,  and 
28* 


330 


REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 


his  men  forgot  to  fear.  Gradually  the  British  fire 
slackened,  their  mainmast  began  to  shake,  and  at 
half  past  ten  they  struck.  Scarcely  was  there  time 
to  transport  the  wounded  to  the  prize,  when  the  Bon 
Homme  Richard  sank.  The  Sera  pis  was  herself  on 
fire,  and  had  five  feet  of  water  in  the  hold.  "  A  per- 
son," says  Jones  himself,  "  must  have  been  an  eye- 
witness to  form  a  just  idea  of  the  tremendous  scene  of 
carnage,  wreck,  and  ruin,  which  everywhere  appeared. 
Humanity  cannot  but  recoil  from  the  prospect  of  such 
finished  horror,  and  lament  that  war  should  be 
capable  of  producing  such  fatal  consequences." 

The  Serapis  was  a  new  ship  of  forty-four  guns, 
constructed  in  the  most  approved  manner,  with  two 
complete  batteries;  one  of  them  eighteen-pounders. 
She  was  commanded  by  Commodore  Richard  Pearson 


PUTNAM'S  FEAT  AT  HORSENECK. 

URING  the  invasion  of 
Connecticut  by  Governor 
Tryon,  General  Putnam, 
with  the  main  body  of  his 
force,  was  stationed  at 
i  Reading,  in  that  state. 
On  one  occasion,  while 
superintending  a  picket  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty  men  at  Horseneck,  he  was 
suddenly  surprised  by  a  body  of  fifteen  hundred 
troops,  both  cavalry  and  infantry,  led  by  Tryon 
himself.  His  situation  was  perilous.  The  picket 
were  on  the  brow  of  a  hill,  so  steep  that  nearly  one 


332  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

hundred  steps  had  been  cut  in  its  sides  for  the 
accommodation  of  foot  passengers.  On  each  side 
of  this  steep  path  was  a  swamp  impervious  to 
cavalry. 

Undismayed  by  the  vastly  superior  force  of  his 
opponent,  Putnam  drew  up  his  little  band  in  front  of 
the  morass,  and,  exhorting  them  to  be  cool  and 
fearless,  he  commenced  a  cannonade  of  the  enemy 
with  two  small  field-pieces.  Enveloped  in  flame  and 
smoke,  that  iron  heart  bore  up  against  the  fearful 
odds,  and  moved  like  a  giant  spirit  amid  his  faithful 
followers.  For  a  little  while  the  British  were  fairly 
held  at  bay ;  while  the  Americans,  elated  by  success, 
poured  their  blasting  volleys  in  quick  succession  amid 
the  astonished  foe. 

At  length  the  cavalry  prepared  for  a  charge ;  and, 
foreseeing  the  fatal  consequences,  Putnam  ordered 
his  men  to  conceal  themselves  in  the  swamp.  They 
had  scarcely  time  to  do  this,  when  the  dragoons  were 
within  pistol-shot.  Every  eye  was  now  turned  to 
their  commander.  He  could  not  follow  them,  and 
destruction  appeared  inevitable.  Calm  and  dignified 
he  sat  on  his  horse,  until  the  last  soldier  had  gained 
the  thicket,  and  all  was  safe.  Sure  of  their  prize,  the 
dragoons  spurred  desperately  forward,  and  rose  in 
the  stirrup  to  cut  down  the  warrior  with  a  decisive 
blow.  But  Putnam's  plan  had  been  formed.  Urging 
his  horse  to  the  precipice,  he  hung  one  moment  on  its 
verge,  and  in  the  next  was  dashing  headlong  down 
the  steps.  Involuntarily  the  bewildered  cavalry  dis- 
charged their  pistols,  and  reined  upon  the  giddy 
brink.  Not  one  of  that  host  durst  follow  where 


PUTNAM'S   FEAT   AT    HORSENECK. 


333 


Putnam  led.  Their  prey  had  slipped  from  their 
frasp ;  and,  as  they  gazed  at  his  furious  riding,  exe- 
crations deep  and  vengeful  were  pressed  between  their 
teeth.  One  momentary  hope  remained — that  horse 
and  rider  might  tumble  headlong.  Indeed,  it  ap- 
peared inevitable.  But  the  daring  horseman  fell  not. 
Buoyed  above  fear,  he  sat  as  upright  as  though  on 
parade;  while  his  steed  seemed  gifted  with  super- 
natural power.  The  whirl  of  excitement,  the  period 
when  none  dared  breathe,  was  but  for  a  moment. 
Putnam  gained  the  plain  unharmed ;  and,  after 
stopping  long  enough  to  bestow  one  meaning  smile 
on  the  spectators  above,  hurried  forward  to  his  main 
army.  After  receiving  reinforcements,  he  faced  about 
and  pursued  Tryon  on  his  return. 


General    Greene. 


BATTLE  OF  EUTAW  SPK1NGS. 

HERE  is  often  a  parallel  to  be  ob- 
served in  the  fortunes  of  great 
men.  As  Washington,  after  a  pe- 
riod of  long  and  vexatious  inaction, 
crowned  his  military  course  with 
the  capture  of  Cornwallis ;  so  his 
most  active  officer,  Gen.  Greene, 
completed  his  brilliant  course  by  the  victory  of 
Eutaw  Springs.  That  great  man  found  the 


BATTLE    OF   EUTAW    SPRINGS.  335 

South  a  conquered  province.  A  fee  army  led  by  an 
indefatigable  general,  and  flushed  with  victory,  was 
ready  to  crush  the  least  signs  of  rebellion  or  opposition ; 
and  so  sure  did  Cornwallis  consider  his  conquest,  that 
he  was  ready  to  march  into  Virginia  before  Greene 
had  arrived  to  supersede  General  Gates.  How  the 
American  general  rose  as  difficulties  pressed  him, — 
how  his  comprehensive  mind  embraced  in  one  sweep, 
all  the  plans  and  requisites  for  a  successful  campaign, 
— how  he  gave  spirit  and  discipline  to  the  defeated 
Americans;  led  them  cheerfully  into  battle;  made 
them  veterans,  and  wrung  from  his  astonished  oppo- 
nent the  long-worn  laurels  of  the  South — are  familiar 
to  all.  The  reward  of  his  brilliant  career,  the  natural 
consequence  of  his  toil  and  suffering  and  anxiety, 
was  the  action  at  Eutaw  Springs. 

The  evening  of  the  7th  of  September,  1781,  was 
serene  and  beautiful.  On  the  wide  stretching  plains 
of  the  South,  the  blue  sky  with  her  thousand  stars  looked 
down  with  a  stillness  and  solemnity,  that  lent  a  magic 
influence  to  all  around,  and  raised  the  feelings  of  man 
from  earth  to  heaven.  Yet,  even  amid  that  quiet 
scene,  dark  and  terrible  passions  were  rankling,  for 
five  thousand  men  lay  in  arms  waiting  for  the  dawn 
to  light,  to  guide  them  to  death  and  slaughter. 

For  three  days  previous  to  this,  General  Greene 
had  advanced  by  easy  marches  toward  the  enemy's 
position.  But  to  his  astonishment  the  latter  appeared 
to  have  no  intimation  of  his  approach,  and  although 
the  American  scouts  came  within  reconnoitering 
distance,  he  still  remained  in  the  same  position.  Al- 
though Greene's  march  was  effected  without  any 


336  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

attempt  at  concealment,  yet,  during  the  night  of  the 
7th,  the  same  dead  calm  continued;  nobody  was 
observed  moving. 

But  the  morning  of  the  8th  was  destined  to  break 
this  oppressive  quietness.  At  four  o'clock  Greene 
put  the  Americans  in  motion,  arranged  in  two  columns, 
with  the  artillery  in  front.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Lee 
formed  the  advance,  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Wash- 
ington the  rear.  After  advancing  cautiously  to  within 
four  miles  of  the  British  camp,  Lee  suddenly  encoun- 
tered a  party  of  the  enemy,  and  halted.  The  echoing 
of  musketry  through  the  woods,  soon  gave  notice  to 
the  American  commander  that  an  action  had  com- 
menced, and  the  horse  were  hurried  forward  to  par- 
ticipate. The  hot  fire  in  front  so  severely  galled  the 
British  that  they  began  to  give  way.  At  the  same 
moment  the  cavalry  dashed  into  their  rear,  driving 
before  them  the  enemy's  horsemen  and  foragers, 
scattering  the  infantry  in  all  directions,  and  securing 
about  forty  with  their  captain. 

The  soldiers  had  marched  but  a  little  distance 
after  this  skirmish,  when  they  encountered  a  second 
corps,  and  the  action  recommenced.  The  artillery 
was  now  opened  on  both  sides,  and,  while  the  soldiers 
were  falling  beneath  its  fire,  each  army  formed  its  line 
of  battle.  The  North  Carolina  militia,  with  those  of 
South  Carolina,  made  the  first  line ;  the  continentals 
the  second.  Lee's  legion  had  care  of  the  right  flank, 
and  Henderson's  corps  of  the  left.  Two  three-pound- 
ers were  in  the  front  line,  and  the  remainder  of  the 
artillery,  two  sixes,  in  the  rear.  The  cavalry  under 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Washington  formed  the  reserve. 


BATTLE   OF   EUTAW   SPRINGS.  337 

The  British  formed  but  one  line,  drawn  up  in  front  of 
their  tents,  with  two  separate  bodies  of  infantry  and 
cavalry  in  their  rear,  and  their  artillery  distributed  in 
different  roads  along  the  line. 

While  the  skirmishing  continued,  one  corps  after 
another  came  into  action,  until  the  greater  part  of 
both  armies  was  engaged.  The  fire  ran  from  rank  to 
rank,  raking  the  long  extended  lines,  and  bringing 
infantry,  horse,  and  artillery-men  to  the  ground.  Part 
of  the  British  centre,  with  two  other  regiments,  rushed 
suddenly  upon  the  advance  militia,  routed  them  after 
a  short  struggle,  and  hurried  on  toward  the  left  flank. 
But  the  troops  composing  this  part  of  the  army,  under 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Henderson,  received  the  shock 
Avith  firmness,  and  poured  forward  their  volleys  with  a 
rapidity  and  precision,  that  stopped  pursuit  and  re- 
stored the  battle.  Fired  by  this  spirited  conduct, 
Greene  dashed  toward  his  second  line,  and  ordered  its 
centre,  under  Brigadier-General  Sumter,  to  move  into 
the  chasm,  left  by  the  retiring  militia.  These  troops 
poured  into  action  with  loud  shouts  ;  the  battle  grew 
darker  and  bloodier,  and  the  enemy  in  their  turn  fell 
back  to  the  first  position.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Stewart, 
the  British  commander,  hurried  into  action  the  infantry 
in  rear  of  his  left  wing.  The  conflict  was  then  terri- 
ble. Regiments  were  sweeping  along  under  galling 
fires;  the  hot  sun  was  beaming  and  dancing  over 
thousands  of  bayonets,  and  helmets,  and  sabres ;  cav- 
alry were  thundering  from  rank  to  rank,  the  sheaths 
of  the  dragoons  ringing  across*  the  field;  while  the 
ground,  air,  and  woods  rocked,  with  the  rushings  of 
angry  thousands,  the  rattling  of  musketry,  the  loud 
29  Y 


338  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR. 

roaring  of  cannon.  The  plumes  of  officers  were 
leaping  here  and  there  between  the  volumes  of  smoke ; 
charge  after  charge  was  crushing  scores  into  the 
earth;  and  the  love  of  life,  the  strong  universal  tie, 
was  suspended  in  the  whirlings  of  passion. 

High  over  this  scene  of  uproar,  General  Greene's 
form  was  observed,  like  some  powerful  spirit,  swaying 
the  elements  of  destruction  and  terror.  His  voice 
rang  wildly  through  the  fearful  uproar,  and  his  sword 
flashed  with  startling  energy  in  the  bright  sunbeams, 
as  he  drove  on  his  brave  men  to  different  positions. 
Observing  the  closeness  of  the  conflict,  he  determined 
upon  a  decisive  movement,  and  ordered  up  the 
Maryland  and  Virginia  men.  Their  loud  shouts 
announced  their  coming ;  and  soon,  like  the  blast  of 
a  volcano,  their  drizzling  hail  opened  upon  the  British. 
Whole  companies  were  annihilated,  or  reduced  to 
skeletons ;  horse  and  rider  sunk  at  once  to  the 
earth,  and  for  a  moment  the  veterans  of  England 
staggered. 

At  this  critical  moment,  Major  Majoribanks  hurled 
his  grenadier  battalion  into  action,  and  sustained  his 
faltering  comrades.  But,  determined  on  victory, 
Greene  ordered  Lieutenant-Colonel  Washington  to 
fall  upon  him  ;  and,  galloping  furiously  along  the  line, 
called  for  the  bayonet.  Suddenly  the  American  fire 
died  away,  and  the  long  extended  line  was  bending 
forward  to  the  charge.  Blasting  volleys  were  poured 
into  their  ranks,  and  brave  fellows  sunk  down  on  every 
side.  Every  gun  was  aimed  full  at  their  faces,  and 
every  cannon  glared  terribly  upon  their  densely 
packed  ranks.  Still  they  stopped  not — swerved  not. 


BATTLE    OF   EUTAW    SPRINGS.  339 

The  eye  of  Greene  was  upon  them,  and  the  war-worn 
defenders  of  the  South  were  leading  them  on.  The 
woods  resounded  with  their  firm  tramp,  and  the 
enemy  prepared  for  the  terrible  encounter. 

At  this  moment  Lieutenant-Colonel  Lee,  observing 
that  the  line  extended  beyond  the  British  flank, 
instantly  ordered  a  company  to  gain  the  latter,  and 
give  it  a  raking  fire.  Assailed  in  front  by  the  bayonet 
and  in  flank  by  musketry,  the  enemy  recoiled  in  haste. 
For  a  moment  they  rallied — the  armies  closed — 
bayonets  plunged  at  opposing  bosoms;  then  all  was 
dark.  The  next  moment  the  British  line  was  broken, 
the  troops  flying  in  all  directions,  and  leaving  their 
camp  the  undisputed  prize  of  the  victors.  Had  the 
nature  of  the  ground  been  favourable  to  the  move- 
ments of  cavalry,  the  whole  British  army  would  have 
been  captured.  But,  unfortunately,  Colonel  Wash- 
ington became  involved  in  a  swamp,  where  he  could 
neither  advance  nor  recede ;  and  in  this  position  he 
was  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  whole  retreating  corps. 
Many  officers  were  killed,  his  horse  shot  under  him, 
and  himself  bayoneted  and  taken.  One-half  of  his 
corps  was  destroyed.  This  afforded  the  British  an 
opportunity  of  covering  their  retreat ;  while  part  of 
them  entered  a  large  stone  house,  adjoining  the  road. 

In  this  pursuit  the  Americans  captured  three  hun- 
dred prisoners  and  two  pieces  of  artillery.  Conster- 
nation prevailed  in  the  British  army ;  fugitives  were 
hastening  toward  Charleston ;  and  the  staff  were  de- 

O  * 

stroying  stores  of  every  kind. 

At  this  critical  juncture,  when  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Lee  had  possession  of  all  the  roads  commanding  the 


340  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

retreat,  he  received  intelligence  that  a  sustaining  corps 
had  failed  to  come  up,  and  could  not  be  found.  This 
unlooked-for  news  was  not  less  fatal  to  the  bright 
prospect  of  persona]  glory  than  to  the  splendid  issue 
of  the  conflict.  Lee  was  obliged  to  withdraw,  and 
immediately  Stewart  restored  his  broken  line,  and 
renewed  the  action.  He  regained  his  captured  camp 
and  artillery,  and  took  two  American  pieces. 

Thus  closed  the  battle  of  Eutaw  Springs,  in  which 
accident  wrested  a  complete  victory  from  the  hands 
of  the  American  general.  It  lasted  more  than  three 
hours,  and  was  fiercely  contested,  the  corps  in  both 
armies  bravely  supporting  each,  other.  With  the 
exception  of  the  cavalry,  where  the  advantage  lay 
with  the  Americans,  the  armies  were  about  equal,  both 
in  numbers  and  composition.  Each  numbered  twenty- 
three  hundred,  with  like  proportions  of  irregulars. 
The  loss  was  uncommonly  great.  According  to  official 
returns,  more  than  one-fifth  of  the  British,  and  one- 
fourth  of  the  American  army,  were  killed  and  wounded, 
and  officers  on  both  sides  considered  the  loss  much 
greater.  The  enemy  made  sixty  prisoners,  all  wounded  ; 
the  Americans  about  five  hundred,  including  some 
wounded  left  in  camp  by  Colonel  Stewart  at  his  retreat. 
Of  six  regimental  commanders,  only  Williams  and 
Lee  were  unhurt.  Washington,  Howard,  and  Hen- 
derson were  wounded ;  and  the  respected  and  beloved 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Campbell  was  killed.  Both  sides 
claimed  the  victory,  but  the  advantages  were  altogether 
with  the  Americans. 


General    Wayne. 


WAYNE'S  CHARGE  AT  GREEN  SPRING. 

HE  name  of  Wayne  is  asso- 
ciated with  all  that  is  daring 
and   chivalric   in  our  revolu- 
tionary struggle.     Impetuous 
as   a  cataract  in  battle,  and 
yet  cool  and  calculating,  few 
who  leaned  upon  him  for  sup- 
port, in  the  hour  of  danger,  ever  complained 
of  disappointment ;  and  his  conduct  at  Ger- 
mantown,  Monmouth,  and  Stony  Point,  proves 
his  efficiency  both  in  following  a  leader,  and  in 
commanding  an  assault. 


344  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

During  La  Fayette's  stirring  campaign  in  Virginia, 
Wayne  was  despatched  by  Washington,  to  assist  that 
nobleman  in  his  efforts  against  Cornwallis.  On  the 
6th  of  July,  1781,  La  Fayette  came  up  with  the 
British  general  near  the  Chickahominy  Creek,  and  on 
learning  that  the  main  body  of  his  army  had  already 
crossed  the  river  to  the  northern  bank,  leaving  behind 
it  on  the  southern  only  a  rear  guard,  he  determined 
to  attack  it.  The  main  body  of  his  army  had  not 
yet  arrived ;  yet  placing  the  seven  hundred  men  with 
him,  who  were  the  very  flower  of  his  army,  under  Gen- 
eral Wayne,  he  ordered  him  to  attack  the  supposed 
rear. 

Wayne  vigorously  attacked  the  pickets,  driving 
them  rapidly  before  him,  and  pushing  for  the  entire 
guard.  Suddenly  a  sight  terrible  as  unexpected  burst 
upon  him.  The  information  on  which  he  was  acting 
had  been  false;  the  whole  British  army  was  drawn  up  in 
battle  array,  and  he,  with  seven  hundred  men,  not  fifty 
yards  from  them.  Retreat  was  utterly  impossible,  and 
to  remain  inactive  would  have  secured  destruction. 
The  least  show  of  fear,  the  least  indecision,  would  have 
been  fatal ;  Wayne  knew  it,  and  his  course  was  taken. 
Parties  were  already  on  his  flanks;  and  the  enemy 
pressing  forward,  certain  of  undisputed  victory.  Ral- 
lying his  little  band  around  him,  he  ordered  a  charge 
with  the  bayonet,  and  dashed  down  into  the  heart  of 
opposing  thousands.  Instantly  a  movement  was  ob- 
served among  them,  and  in  a  few  moments  the  flanking 
parties  were  recalled,  and  the  first  line  heaved  back  be- 
fore the  general's  furious  shock.  Even  Cornwallis  was 
deceived  by  so  brilliant  a  manoeuvre,  and,  imagining 


WAYNE'S    CHARGE. 


345 


that  the  whole  American  army  was  approaching,  he 
hastily  concentrated  his  forces,  and  prepared  for  the 
attack.  Seeing  all  obstructions  removed,  Wayne  sud- 
denly withdrew  his  troops,  and,  though  in  the  face  of 
a  galling  fire,  conducted  them  away  in  excellent  order. 
Bewildered  by  so  inexplicable  a  movement,  the  British 
commander  imagined  it  to  be  but  a  stratagem  to  draw 
him  into  an  ambuscade,  and  accordingly  forbid  all 
pursuit.  The  Americans  lost  one  hundred  and  eight 
men,  a  proof  of  the  dreadful  fire  under  which  they 
made  their  charge.  The  British  loss  is  unknown. 
Wayne  received  the  highest  commendations  of  the 
marquis,  as  well  as  those  of  Washington  and  Greene. 


Commodore    Barney. 


CAPTURE  OF  THE  GENERAL  MONK. 

N  the  8th  of  April,  1782,  Lieu- 
tenant Joshua  Barney  commenced 
his  cruise  for  the  capture  of  the 
enemy's  privateers,  which  had 
lately  committed  great  outrages 
in  the  vicinity  of  Delaware  Bay.  His  ship,  the 
Hyder  Ally,  carried  sixteen  guns,  and  had  been  fitted 
up  by  the  state  of  Pennsylvania  expressly  for  this 
service.  While  alone  near  the  Capes,  he  was  descried 


CAPTURE  OF  THE  GENERAL  MONK.     349 

by  a  brig  and  two  ships  of  the  enemy,  who  im- 
mediately commenced  .  an  attack.  After  permitting 
the  smaller  vessel  to  pass,  Barney  allowed  one  of  the 
ships  to  approach  within  pistol-shot;  while  the  other 
stationed  herself  toward  the  west,  in  order  to  cut  off 
the  retreat  of  the  Americans. 

The  attacking  vessel  now  bore  down  in  haste 
upon  the  Hyder  Ally,  imagining  that  the  latter  would 
strike ;  but  a  wide  ringing  broadside,  whose  shot 
came  ripping  and  splitting  among  spars  and  sails, 
soon  corrected  the  mistake.  At  such  unmistakeable 
marks  of  determination,  the  enemy  halted  for  a 
moment ;  and  then  commenced  ranging  alongside 
of  Captain  Barney,  preparatory  to  boarding.  At  this 
important  moment,  Barney  directed  the  quartermaster 
in  a  loud  voice  to  port  the  helm,  while  at  the  same 
time  he  was  under  secret  orders  to  perform  a  ma- 
noeuvre exactly  opposite.  By  this  singular  stratagem 
the  British  were  completely  deceived,  and  allowed 
the  Americans  to  gain  a  position  where  they  could 
effectually  rake  their  enemy.  The  battle  now  raged 
with  such  fury,  that  in  twenty-six  minutes  twenty 
broadsides  were  fired.  Amid  this  scene  of  death  and 
desolation,  while  the  two  ships  were  rocking  under 
repeated  shocks,  and  the  water  hissing  and  boiling 
with  shot,  Captain  Barney  stood  upon  the  quarter- 
deck, in  full  view  of  the  enemy's  musketeers,  and  a 
mark  for  every  discharge.  In  twenty-six  minutes  the 
enemy  struck  her  colours. 

The  prize  proved  to  be  the  General  Monk,  for- 
merly an  American  vessel,  under  the  title  of  General 
Washington.  It  had  been  captured  by  the  British, 
30 


350 


REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 


and  fitted  up,  under  a  new  name,  with  eighteen  nine- 
pounders,  and  one  hundred  and  thirty-six  men,  under 
Captain  Rodgers. 

The  General  Monk  lost  twenty  men  killed,  and 
thirty-three  wounded ;  the  Hyder  Ally  four  killed,  and 
eleven  wounded.  Considering  the  great  disparity  of 
force,  together  with  the  fierceness  of  the  action  and 
brilliancy  of  manreuvring,  this  is  justly  considered 
one  of  the  proudest  achievements  on  our  naval 
record. 


THE  MUTINIES. 


HE  sufferings  endured  oy 
our  brave  men,  during  the 
long  struggle  for  indepen- 
dence, can  scarcely  be 
appreciated  by  those  who 
live  in  a  more  propitious 
age.  Encamped  in  win- 
ter amid  driving  snows, 
with  no  shelter  except 
rude  huts,  without  blank- 
ets or  shirts,  they  frequent 
jy  passed  entire  days  destitute  of  any  food.  Their 
petitions  were  rejected  by  Congress,  and  their  pay 
was  often  more  than  a  year  in  arrears.  Disease  was 
added  to  their  other  miseries — death  in  every  shape 
stared  them  in  the  face.  Should  their  cause  fail, 
30*  z 


354  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

nothing  was  before  them  but  an  ignominious  fate; 
and  should  they  gain  their  independence,  their  only 
reward  appeared  to  be  utter  destitution. 

Under  these  circumstances  it  is  no  matter  of  sur- 
prise that  discontent  against  Congress,  and  a  dissatis- 
faction with  the  service,  should  have  spread  them- 
selves throughout  the  camp.  Men  of  common  mould 
would  not  have  supported  such  suffering  one  week ; 
and  amid  all  the  wonders  of  that  wonderful  period, 
one  of  the  greatest  is  the  patience  of  the  revolutionary 
martyrs. 

An  unfortunate  oversight  of  Congress,  was  the 
enlistment  of  men  for  three  years,  or  during  the  con- 
tinuance of  the  war.  When  the  three  years  expired, 
the  troops  claimed  their  discharge,  asserting  that  the 
phrase — "during  the  continuance  of  the  war,"  was 
added  only  as  a  provision  in  case  of  the  war  ceasing 
before  the  expiration  of  three  years.  Congress,  how- 
ever, thought  differently,  contending  that  the  disputed 
phrase  provided  for  the  continuation  of  the  war 
beyond  three  years.  Considering  the  construction 
of  Congress  as  an  attempt  at  fraud,  the  soldiers  became 
discontented  and  exasperated,  and  peremptorily  claim- 
ed their  discharge.  This  was  positively  refused,  and 
now  the  forbearance  of  patriotism  itself  was  ex- 
hausted. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1781,  the  whole  Pennsylva- 
nia line,  except  a  part  of  three  regiments,  paraded 
under  arms,  seized  provisions,  ammunition,  and  six  field- 
pieces,  broke  into  the  stables  of  General  Wayne,  and 
took  his  horses  to  transport  them.  The  alarm  spread 
like  lightning  through  the  camp,  messengers  rushed 


THE   MUTINEERS.  355 

toward  Wayne's  head-quarters,  and  in  half  an  hour 
wild  uproar  was  revelling  where  all  had  been  order 
and  quiet.  The  officers  met  in  groups,  pale  and  un- 
decided; men  that  had  charged  into  the  throat  of 
blazing  batteries,  were  now  irresolute,  and  feeble  as 
children.  The  remainder  of  the  line  hurried  together, 
and,  gaining  courage  from  their  presence,  the  officers 
joined  them,  and  confronted  the  insurgents.  Shots 
were  exchanged,  and  a  few  fell  dead.  Then  the  muti- 
neers became  furious.  Sweeping  onward  with  fixed 
bayonets,  they  drove  everything  before  them,  and 
called  on  their  opposers  to  join  them,  under  pain  of 
instant  death.  Unable  to  stand  before  so  overwhelm- 
ing a  tide,  they  complied,  and  the  revolt  became 
general. 

At  this  moment  a  single  horseman  was  seen  gal- 
loping as  for  life  toward  the  army.  Alone,  armed 
only  with  his  pistols,  that  fierce  rider  dashed  along  the 
ranks,  and  called  for  submission.  It  was  General 
Wayne ;  he  whose  wild  battle-shout  had  led  them  at 
Brandywine  and  Germantown,  and  Monmouth  and 
Stony  Point.  But  there  are  moments  when  love  and 
reverence  are  flung  to  the  winds,  in  the  struggle  for 
right  and  honour.  Wayne's  magic  voice  had  lost  its 
spell.  Each  soldier  sternly  grasped  his  piece,  and  the 
march  continued.  He  drew  his  pistol;  but,  with  a 
calmness  stern  and  dreadful,  they  said,  "  General,  we 
respect  and  love  you.  Often  have  you  led  us  into  the 
field  of  battle ;  but  we  are  no  longer  under  your  com- 
mand. We  warn  you  to  be  on  your  guard.  If  you 
fire  your  pistols,  or  attempt  to  enforce  your  com- 
mands, you  are  a  dead  man !"  Unable  to  stem  the 


356  REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 

torrent,  he  resorted  to  expostulation.  He  reminded 
them  of  the  cause  for  which  they  were  fighting ;  of 
their  former  patience,  and  of  the  ignominy  they  would 
acquire  by  joining  the  enemy,  who  were  doubtless  on 
the  alert  to  seize  this  favourable  opportunity.  "  We 
are  not  going  to  the  enemy,"  was  their  answer.  "On 
the  contrary,  were  they  now  to  come  out,  you  should 
see  us  fight  under  your  orders  with  as  much  alacrity 
as  ever.  But  we  will  no  longer  be  amused.  We  are 
determined  on  obtaining  what  is  our  just  due.  We 
have  been  imposed  upon,  and  deceived  respecting  our 
term  of  enlistment ;  we  have  received  no  wages  for 
more  than  a  year ;  we  are  destitute  of  clothing,  and 
have  often  been  deprived  of  our  rations.  Now  we 
march  to  Congress  to  demand  that  justice  which  has 
so  long  been  denied."  They  set  out  for  Philadelphia, 
moving  in  the  strictest  military  order,  and  posting 
pickets,  guards,  and  sentinels,  around  their  night  camps. 
Wayne,  with  other  officers,  accompanied  them,  and, 
on  arriving  at  Princeton,  prevailed  on  them  to  halt, 
and  draw  up  a  petition  of  redress  to  be  presented  to 
Congress. 

On  hearing  of  this  unexpected  occurrence,  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  hastened  to  turn  it  to  his  own  advantage. 
Well  assured  that  the  breath  of  civil  war  would  blast 
the  prospect  of  independence  far  more  effectually  than 
any  effort  he  could  exert,  he  sent  two  emissaries  to 
the  revolters,  with  written  instructions  that,  by  laying 
down  their  arms  and  marching  to  New  York,  they 
should  receive  their  arrearages  and  depreciation  in 
hard  cash,  should  be  well  clothed,  have  a  free  pardon 
for  all  past  offences,  be  protected  by  the  British 


THE    MUTINEERS.  357 

government,  and  have  no  military  service  imposed 
upon  them,  unless  voluntarily  offered.  But  Sir  Henry 
was  unacquainted  with  the  men  with  whom  he  was 
dealing,  and  had  calculated  too  far  on  the  influence  of 
Arnold's  example.  His  golden  offers  were  spurned 
with  the  disdain  of  true  patriotism,  and  the  commis- 
sioners seized.  Soon  after  a  committee  redressed  the 
wrongs  of  the  insurgents,  the  British  deputies  were 
executed  as  spies,  and  the  soldiers  returned  to  duty. 

The  revolt  of  the  New  Jersey  line  was  one  more 
deeply  tragic.  Determined  not  to  temporize  with  so 
dangerous  an  event,  Washington  despatched  Major- 
General  Howe,  with  five  hundred  men,  to  quell  the 
rebellion  at  all  hazards.  After  four  days'  marching, 
through  woods  and  over  mountains,  in  the  depth 
of  winter,  they  reached  the  huts  of  the  insurgents. 
Howe  then  ordered  his  aid  to  command  the  mutineers 
to  appear  on  parade  in  front  of  their  camp,  unarmed, 
within  five  minutes.  They  hesitated ;  a  second  mes- 
senger was  sent ;  and,  finding  all  resistance  useless, 
they  paraded  without  arms.  A  terrible  pause  suc- 
ceeded— the  sickening  anticipation  of  unknown  evil. 
Then  three  of  the  ringleaders  were  brought  out, 
court-martialled  on  the  spot,  and  sentenced  to  be 
immediately  shot.  Twelve  of  their  guilty  companions 
were  selected  as  executioners.  Terrible  duty ! — each 
shuddered  with  horror;  and,  when  ordered  to  load, 
shed  tears  of  bitter  agony.  Overwhelmed  by  the 
terrors  of  death,  the  victims  gazed  despairingly  from 
side  to  side ;  but  no  force  was  near  to  wrest  them 
from  the  stern  arm  of  power.  Every  heart  bied  with 
sympathy,  yet  none  dared  speak  his  feelings. 


358  REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 

The  first  victim  was  led  to  the  distance  of  a  few 
yards,  and  placed  upon  his  knees.  At  a  signal  from 
an  officer,  six  of  the  executioners  fired,  three  aiming 
at  his  breast,  and  three  at  his  head.  A  stifled  groan 
of  agony  came  from  the  line,  and  each  man  involun- 
tarily closed  his  eyes.  But  every  gun  had  missed. 
The  next  moment  the  remaining  six  fired,  and  the 
wretch  was  hurled  into  eternity.  The  second  crimi- 
nal was  despatched  at  the  first  fire.  Half  dead  with 
apprehension,  the  third  victim  was  brought  upon  the 
snow.  He  kneeled  down.  Already  the  pieces  were 
aimed,  and  every  muscle  shuddered  in  anticipation  of 
the  fatal  report.  Suddenly  he  was  pardoned.  The 
thrill  of  joy — of  wild  relief — at  that  unexpected 
moment,  was  too  great  even  for  military  discipline. 
With  exclamations  of  gratitude,  all  the  men  rushed 
toward  their  officers ;  and,  while  tears  streamed  from 
their  eyes,  swore  never  again  to  desert  the  cause. 

After  the  execution  was  finished,  Howe  ordered 
the  former  officers  to  resume  their  stations  and  com- 
mand ;  and  then,  in  a  pathetic  manner,  addressed  the 
whole  line  by  platoons,  endeavouring  to  impress  them 
with  a  sense  of  the  enormity  of  their  crime,  and  of 
the  dreadful  consequences  which  might  have  resulted 
from  it.  After  this  he  commanded  them  to  ask 
pardon  of  their  officers,  and  promise  to  devote  them- 
selves to  duty  in  future. 

In  this  affair  Sir  Henry  Clinton  again  made 
himself  detestable,  by  sending  an  emissary  to  the 
troops,  with  similar  offers  to  those  formerly  extended. 
His  designs  were  again  frustrated ;  after  which 
General  Howe  returned  to  head-quarters. 


BATTLE  OF  THE  COWPENS. 


HE  British  under  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Tarleton, 
numbering  eleven  hun- 
dred men,  with  two 
field-pieces,  on  the  17th 
of  January,  1781,  came 
in  sight  of  eight  hun- 
dred Americans,  under 
General  Morgan,  posted  at  the  Cowpens.  The  ground 
was  by  no  means  favourable  for  defensive  warfare, 
leaving  the  flanks  unprotected,  and  cutting  off  retreat 
by  a  deep  river  in  the  rear.  Yet,  under  all  these  dis- 
advantages, Morgan  firmly  awaited  the  arrival  of  his 
adversary,  with  the  determination  of  giving  battle. 
His  army  was  drawn  up  in  three  lines, — the  first 
composed  of  militia,  the  second  of  continental  in- 
fantry, and  a  third,  constituting  the  reserve,  of  Colo- 
nel Washington's  cavalry,  and  a  company  of  mounted 
militia, 

31 


62  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

As  the  armies  hung  on  the  verge  of  battle,  Morgan 
rode  among  his  troops,  praising  the  unshrinking  firm- 
ness with  which  they  had  sustained  so  many  battles, 
exhorting  them  not  to  let  the  present  one  diminish 
their  fame,  and  reminding  them  that  they  were  fight 
ing  under  a  leader  never  yet  defeated. 

Scarcely  were  the  words  of  that  fiery  appeal 
spoken,  when  the  enemy  came  bearing  down  with 
irresistible  fury,  sweeping  the  militia  before  them, 
and  rushing  forward  to  charge  the  regulars.  Undis- 
mayed by  the  repulse  of  the  militia,  this  little  band 
bore  up  against  the  impetuous  surge,  and  received  the 
shock  with  unshrinking  firmness.  A  terrible  conflict 
began.  Spurning  their  dead  and  wounded  beneath 
their  feet,  the  British  drove  on  with  the  bayonet, 
charging  and  recharging  with  fearful  rapidity.  But, 
animated  by  the  gallant  Howard,  the  continentals 
bent  forward  to  the  blow,  and  wrestled  with  overpow- 
ering numbers,  until  they  were  completely  outflanked. 
Morgan  then  ordered  a  retreat  to  the  cavalry;  and 
though  in  full  range  of  a  superior  enemy,  the  whole 
line  effected  the  movement  in  the  most  perfect  order. 
By  this  means  the  flanks  were  relieved  and  a  new  order 
of  battle  formed. 

Considering  this  retrograde  movement  as  the  pre- 
cursor of  flight,  the  British  line  pressed  on  with 
impetuosity  and  disorder ;  but  with  a  rapidity  truly 
astonishing,  Howard's  troops  faced  about,  and  dis- 
charged their  pieces  full  in  their  opponents'  faces. 
Stunned  by  this  unexpected  shock,  the  most  advanced 
recoiled  in  confusion.  At  that  critical  moment 
Howard  rushed  on  them  with  the  bayonet.  Wild 


BATTLE    OF   THE    COWPENS.  363 

rout  and  uproar  took  the  place  of  pursuit.  The  ad- 
vancing reserve  shared  the  fate  of  the  main  body — 
everything  broke  and  scattered  beneath  Howard's 
terrible  charge. 

Meanwhile,  the  militia  had  rallied,  and  been  attack- 
ed by  the  enemy's  cavalry ;  but,  at  the  same  time  that 
the  continental  infantry  charged  the  British  line,  Co- 
lonel Washington,  with  his  dragoons,  charged  their 
cavalry.  Hurled  forward  by  this  impetuous  officer, 
our  horsemen  burst  like  an  avalanche  among  the  Brit- 
ish, trampling  horse  and  rider  in  the  dust,  and  hurrying 
the  others  before  him  in  full  gallop.  In  a  few  mo- 
ments they  were  crushing  down  ranks  of  their  own 
army,  that  were  fleeing  before  Howard.  Then  Mor- 
gan rallied  his  militia,  and,  shouting  above  the  din  of 
battle,  drove  down  amid  the  disastrous  rout.  Urged 
by  the  sense  of  their  sufferings  from  that  very  army, 
the  Americans  hurried  to  vengeance,  with  shouts  of 
exultation.  The  clashing  of  bayonets,  the  thunder- 
ings  of  cavalry,  the  ringing  of  sabres,  and  noise  of 
victory,  pealed  far  and  wide  along  those  solitary 
plains ;  while  in  every  direction,  swords  and  bayonets 
and  drums,  and  horses,  and  dead  and  dying,  were 
strewed  in  utter  confusion.  Still  the  flight  continued, 
and  behind  it  the  thunderings  of  pursuit,  until  the 
exhausted  victors  could  no  longer  pursue.  Wash- 
ington followed  Tarleton  twenty  miles ;  and,  on  one 
occasion,  when  separated  from  his  command,  was  in 
imminent  danger  from  three  dragoons,  who  made  a 
combined  attack  upon  him.  By  the  assistance  of  a 
soldier  he  drove  these  off,  after  receiving  a  wound  in 
the  knee. 


364  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR. 

In  this  decisive  action,  the  Americans  lost  about 
seventy  men,  of  whom  twelve  only  were  killed.     The 
British  infantry,  with  the  exception  of  the  baggage 
guard,  were  nearly  all  killed  or  taken.     One  hundred, 
including  ten  officers,  were  killed,  twenty-three  officers 
and  five  hundred  privates  were  taken.     The  artillery, 
eight  hundred  muskets,  two  standards,  thirty-five  bag 
gage-wagons,   and     one   hundred     dragoon    horses 
remained  with  the  victors. 


General    Morgan. 


CAPTURE  OF  NEW  LONDON. 


^MEDIATELY  after  General  Ar- 
il nold  had  returned  from  his  infa- 
mous expedition  into  Virginia,  he 
was  despatched  by  Sir  Henry 
Clinton  on  an  expedition  against 
|  New  London,  Connecticut.  After 
:  taking  undisputed  possession  of 
Fort  Trumbull,  he  advanced 
against  Fort  Griswold,  and  summoned  the  garrison  to 
surrender.  Colonel  Ledyard,  the  commandant,  replied 
that  he  would  defend  the  place  to  the  last.  He  had 
with  him  but  one  hundred  and  sixty  men,  and  the 
works  were  but  moderately  strong. 


368  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

The  British  moved  to  the  attack  in  three  columns, 
and  were  received  by  a  steady  fire  from  the  garrison. 
As  they  neared  the  fort,  the  quick  wide  gaps  in  their 
ranks  showed  that  death  was  stalking  with  rapid 
strides  among  them;  but,  hurried  on  by  the  daring 
Arnold,  they  bared  their  bosoms  to  the  sweeping  fire, 
and  at  length  gained  the  works.  Then  a  momentary 
struggle  ensued,  and  the  silence  told  that  our  troops 
had  surrendered.  Leaping  over  a  parapet,  a  British 
officer  asked  who  commanded.  Colonel  Ledyard  ap- 
peared, and  presented  his  sword.  It  was  taken,  and 
with  savage  malignity  plunged  into  the  patriot's  breast. 
Then  commenced  a  scene  fit  only  for  British  warfare 
in  America.  Imitating  the  infamous  example  of  their 
leader,  the  troops  rushed  among  the  unarmed  gar- 
rison, hacking  and  bayoneting  all  that  came  in  their 
way,  and  flinging  all  honour  or  humanity  to  the  wind. 
Again  the  savage  war-cry  went  up,  while,  mingling 
with  it  in  sickening  accents,  was  the  wail  of  innocence, 
the  unavailing  prayer  for  mercy.  Still  the  awful  work 
went  on;  son  and  brother  and  bosom  companion 
were  butchered  together,  until  piles  of  corpses  were 
packed  along  the  walls,  and  the  ground  ran  deep  with 
human  gore.  But  forty  remained  uninjured. 

In  the  assault  the  enemy  lost  forty-three  killed, 
and  one  hundred  and  forty-five  wounded.  Colonel 
Ayre,  the  commandant,  was  killed,  and  Colonel 
Montgomery  wounded. 

After  this  proceeding,  Arnold  resumed  his  march 
toward  New  London.  After  plundering  it  of  every- 
thing which  his  troops  could  carry,  he  set  the  town  on 
fire,  and  retired  to  a  neighbouring  hill  to  watch  the  con- 


CAPTURE   OF   NEW  LONDON.  369 

flagration.    Here,  amid  scenes  which  should   have 
melted  his  heart-amid  the  rocks,  and  streams,  and 
woods  of  his  childhood-he  stood  like  a  demon, 
glutting  his  appetite  for  destruction.    Gradually  house 
after  house  sunk  among  the  smouldering  flames,  and 
fortunes  of  their  owners  were  ruined.    Besides 
buildings,   an    immense    amount    of  moveable 
property  was  included  in  the  conflagration      The 
surrounding  country  was  then  ravaged;   and,  after 
doing  as  much  mischief  as  possible,  Arnold  returned 

tO  NfiW  Ynrlr 


Ruins    of  Wyoming. 


MASSACRE  OF  WYOMING. 


HE  village  of 
Wyoming  was 
a  small  and 
flourishing  set- 
tlement, situated 
in  a  delightful 
valley  on  the 
eastern  branch 
of  the  Susquehanna.  Unfortunately,  the  territory 
was  claimed  both  by  Pennsylvania  and  Connecticut ; 
and  thus,  from  the  collision  of  contradictory  claims, 
founded  on  royal  charters,  the  laws  of  neither  state 
were  enforced. 

Near  this  peaceful  settlement,  embosomed  amid 


MASSACRE    OF    WYOMING.  373 

the  wildest  scenes  of  nature,  and  remote  from  all 
immediate  help,  the  tory  partisans  of  Britain  could 
assemble,  and  concert  their  schemes  with  perfect 
security.  Having  ventured,'  however,  within  the 
bounds  of  the  village,  a  party  of  them  were  arrested 
by  the  authorities  of  Connecticut,  and  sent  to  Hartford 
for  trial.  They  were  soon  set  at  liberty  j  but  the 
remembrance  of  their  captivity  rankled  in  their 
bosoms,  and  produced  a  determination  of  vengeance. 
They  visited  the  different  Indian  tribes,  painted  their 
wrongs  in  burning  colours,  and  called  upon  every  one 
to  lift  the  hatchet  against  his  oppressor.  Roused  by 
these  fiery  appeals,  the  warriors  of  the  vicinity  met 
in  council,  and  resolved  the  utter  extermination  of  all 
the  Wyoming  settlers. 

In  a  short  time  the  enemy  assembled  together,  to 
the  number  of  eleven  hundred,  of  whom  two  hundred 
were  Indians.  As  commander,  they  chose  Colonel 
John  Butler,  a  man  notorious  for  every  species  of 
crime.  In  July,  1778,  he  appeared  in  force  before  a 
small  fort,  situated  near  the  village,  and  demanded  its 
surrender.  As  the  works  were  in  a  miserable  con- 
dition, and  the  garrison  but  a  handful,  the  demand 
was  obeyed.  A  part  of  the  garrison  had  previously 
retired  to  Forty  Fort,  near  Kingston  j  and  before  this 
place  Butler  now  appeared,  summoning  it  to  sur- 
render. Colonel  Zebulon  Butler,  the  commander, 
answered  by  proposing  a  conference  at  the  bridge 
without  the  works.  This  was  agreed  upon,  and  the 
commandant,  with  his  officers  and  the  greater  part  of 
the  garrison,  repaired  to  the  spot ;  but,  not  meeting 
the  enemy,  they  indulged  the  pleasing  hope  that  the 

32 


374  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

latter  had  fled ;  and,  instead  of  returning  to  the  fort, 
commenced  a  hurried  pursuit.  Over  three  miles  they 
continued  their  reckless  march,  when  they  suddenly 
came  in  sight  of  a  few 'straggling  Indians.  On  these 
they  fired,  but  in  a  moment  were  convinced  of  the 
withering  fact,  that  they  had  been  drawn  into  an 
ambuscade.  With  one  wild  shout  the  tories  and 
savages  commenced  their  attack,  levelling  and  riddling 
the  crowded  masses  before  their  terrible  fire.  A 
cry  of  horror  rose,  and  for  a  moment  the  Americans 
paused;  but  the  officers  rushed  forward,  restored 
order,  and  returned  the  enemy's  fire.  Then  those 
brave  men  stood  up  against  fate,  and,  though  in 
full  view  of  a  hidden  foe,  exerted  long  but  vain  efforts 
to  drive  back  their  assailants.  Undismayed  by  the 
havoc  on  all  sides,  they  continued  the  conflict  until 
the  Indians  had  gained  their  rear,  and  cut  off  all 
retreat.  Then  they  offered  to  surrender;  but  that 
offer  was  received  with  a  fiendish  laugh,  that  spoke 
terribly  to  those  devoted  men.  Still  the  cries  for 
mercy  went  up,  and  then  that  savage  yell,  and  the 
rattling  of  hundreds  of  muskets.  The  sufferers  flung 
away  their  weapons,  and  on  their  knees  implored, 
with  lifted  hands,  for  the  pittance  of  life.  Then  they 
hurried  in  crowds  from  side  to  side,  wild  and  over- 
come with  terror.  Some  threw  themselves  among  the 
mangled  dead,  and  lay  as  though  senseless ;  while  the 
fierce  wrestlings  of  the  soul,  in  the  agonies  of  despair, 
were  sent  up  in  broken  prayers  to  Heaven.  But  all 
was  vain.  Shower  after  shower  of  iron  hail  came 
crashing  among  them,  sweeping  everything  in  its 
course,  and  mingling  the  screams  of  the  wounded  with 


MASSACRE    OF   WYOMING.  375 

the  petitions  for  life.  Of  four  hundred  and  seventeen 
who  had  left  the  fort,  but  fifty-seven  escaped. 

After  this  dreadful  scene,  the  murderers  marched 
to  the  fort  and  again  demanded  its  surrender.  Ac- 
cordingly, articles  of  capitulation  were  signed,  securing 
to  the  people  in  the  fort  their  effects.  Thirty  men, 
and  two  hundred  women  then  crossed  the  river,  and 
commenced  a  distressing  march  through  the  woods  to 
Northampton  county.  The  hardships  of  these  unfor- 
tunate victims  of  barbarity  were  great ;  many  of  the 
women  were  overwhelmed  with  grief  at  the  loss  of 
their  husbands,  brothers,  or  friends.  Most  of  the 
provisions  had  been  left  behind,  and  sadness,  disease, 
and  hunger,  accompanied  their  weary  steps.  Unable 
to  support  their  miseries,  several  lay  down  under  trees 
and  prayed  for  death.  Mutual  sufferings  caused  the 
deepest  sympathy,  and  these  sorrowful  ones  were  car- 
ried the  remainder  of  the  journey  by  their  compan- 
ions. At  length,  emaciated  with  hunger,  sickness,  and 
fatigue,  they  arrived  among  the  Pennsylvania  settle- 
ments. 

In  November,  another  massacre  was  perpetrated 
at  Cherry  Valley  by  one  Brandt,  who  had  been  active 
in  the  former  one.  Accompanied  by  Walter  Butler, 
son  of  Colonel  John  Butler,  and  by  seven  hundred 
men,  he  approached  the  fort  at  that  place  on  the  9th. 
The  commandant,  Colonel  Ichabod  Alden,  had  re- 
ceived numerous  intimations  of  danger;  but,  instead 
of  concentrating  his  forces  to  meet  it,  he  had  discour- 
aged the  inhabitants  from  taking  refuge  in  the  fort, 
and  merely  despatched  a  few  scouts,  to  give  alarm  in 
case  of  seeing  an  enemy.  These  built  a  fire,  and 


376 


REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 


went  to  sleep.  In  this  condition,  they  were  surprised 
and  captured  by  Brandt.  The  settlement  was  invested 
on  every  side,  and  all  the  inhabitants  put  to  death — 
some  by  shooting,  some  by  fire,  others  by  various  tor- 
tures ;  but  the  greater  part  were  crowded  into  barns 
and  houses,  which  were  then  consumed  in  one  general 
conflagration.  Between  thirty  and  forty  prisoners 
were  reserved  for  future  barbarities. 

After  this  diabolical  act,  the  assailants  proceeded 
against  the  fort.  But  its  garrison  of  two  hundred 
men  defended  themselves  with  a  desperation  which 
recent  scenes  had  imparted  to  them,  and  the  savages 
were  obliged  to  retire.  Colonel  Alden,  however,  paid 
for  his  carelessness  with  his  life. 


yv 

m 


JIJ; 


General    Lincoln. 


SURRENDER  OF  CORNWALLIS. 


O  officer  in  the  British  army 
did  more  for  the  cause  of  his 
king,  or  better  deserved  suc- 
cess, than  did  Lord  Corn- 
wallis.  Fertile  in  stratagem, 
brave  and  persevering  even 
^  to  rashness,  rapid  in  the  com- 
bination and  execution  of  his  plans,  he  moved  as  a 
superior  among  all  the  English  generals  of  the  revo- 


380  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

lution.  During  the  campaigns  in  the  Jerseys,  and 
around  Philadelphia,  he  was  continually  in  the  most 
arduous  and  weighty  services;  and  when  the  South 
became  the  favourite  field  of  the  ministry,  he  was 
appointed  to  command  in  that  quarter.  There  his 
very  name  was  a  terror;  and  the  boldest  troops  re- 
laxed from  their  bearing  when  it  was  announced  that 
Cornwallis  was  their  enemy. 

The  19th  of  October,  1781,  was  the  day  appointed 
for  the  surrender  of  the  garrison  at  Yorktown.  At 
twelve  o'clock,  the  combined  army  was  drawn  up  in 
two  lines;  the  Americans  on  the  right,  commanded 
by  General  Washington,  in  full  uniform,  and  attended 
by  his  aids  ;  on  the  left,  were  the  French  troops  under 
Count  Rochambeau,  and  his  suite.  The  French 
marched  to  their  stations  finely  dressed,  and  with 
regular  dignified  step,  to  the  sound  of  national 
music.  In  every  direction  thousands  of  spectators, 
grouped  into  crowds,  were  eagerly  anticipating  a  sight 
of  that  formidable  army,  whose  presence  they  had  so 
often  fled.  Horses,  carriages,  every  kind  of  vehicle, 
were  extended  in  long  rows,  filled  in  many  places  with 
anxious  spectators. 

At  length  a  movement  was  observed  in  the  town, 
and  soon  General  O'Hara,  mounted  on  a  splendid 
charger,  issued  from  the  gates.  Every  eye  was  rivet- 
ed to  the  spot,  in  order  to  get  a  view  of  Cornwallis 
— the  proud  conqueror  of  the  South.  Slowly  and 
gracefully  O'Hara  rode  toward  Washington,  and  yet 
the  earl  appeared  not.  Then  the  British  general  ap- 
proached the  commander,  removed  his  hat,  and  was 
referred  to  General  Lincoln.  Now  the  mystery  was 


SURRENDER  OF  CORNWALLIS.       381 

explained.  Cornwallis  would  not  appear  as  a  pris- 
oner of  those  he  had  been  so  long  accustomed  to 
conquer. 

Slowly  following  their  general,  came  the  British 
troops,  with  shouldered  arms,  cased  colours,  and  tread- 
ing to  the  solemn  tones  of  a  national  march.  They 
were  met  by  General  Lincoln  near  the  centre  of  the 
enclosed  space,  and  conducted  to  the  field  where  the 
ceremony  was  to  take  place.  They  were  dressed  in 
uniform  entirely  new,  which  presented  a  beautiful 
appearance ;  but  their  march  was  irregular  and  disor- 
derly, and  the  ranks  frequently  broken.  But  when  the 
last  act  of  their  humiliation  came,  when  they  were  to 
resign  the  arms  with  which  they  had  so  frequently 
swept  everything  before  them,  shame  and  mortified 
pride  could  no  longer  be  concealed.  The  command 
to  ground  arms,  seemed  torn  by  compulsion  from 
most  of  the  officers  ;  and  was  obeyed  by  many  in  a 
manner  irritable  and  sullen.  Observing  this,  Lincoln 
rode  along  the  line  and  restored  order.  At  the  same 

O 

time  the  troops  at  Gloucester  Point  surrendered  in  a 
similar  manner  to  General  de  Choise". 

The  whole  number  that  capitulated  at  Yorktown, 
was  seven  thousand  two  hundred  and  forty-seven; 
seventy-five  brass,  and  one  hundred  and  sixty-nine 
iron  cannon;  seven  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
ninety-four  muskets ;  eighteen  German  standards  and 
ten  British  ones,  with  a  large  amount  of  provisional 
and  other  stores  were  taken.  The  military  chest 
contained  two  thousand  one  hundred  and  thirteen 
pounds  six  shillings,  sterling. 

The  news  of  the  capture  and  surrender  of  Corn- 


382  REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

wallis,  produced  an  effect  throughout  the  country 
unappreciable  by  those  who  live  at  a  later  day. 
When  the  panting  messenger  announced  to  Congress, 
that  Cornwallis  had  fallen,  the  door-keeper  swooned 
at  his  station ;  the  voice  of  the  orator  was  hushed ; 
all  business  was  suspended,  and  the  members  hastened 
to  the  temple  of  God,  to  return  public  thanks  to 
Almighty  Providence.  The  workman  left  his  tools ; 
the  student  his  closet;  and  even  ladies  their  seclu- 
sion ;  crowds  rushed  through  the  streets  and  lanes,  or 
assembled  in  groups,  reading  the  news  to  the  un- 
learned. The  rich  and  the  poor,  the  slave  and  his 
master,  the  gentleman  and  the  mendicant,  were  for  a 
moment  equal ;  and  one  wild  shout — the  burst  of  a 
nation's  exultation,  pealed  up  throughout  the  land. 
The  Hector  of  the  British  host  had  fallen,  and  all  felt 
that  his  cause  could  not  long  survive. 


CAPTURE   OF  L'INSURGENTE. 


N  the  9th  of  February,  1799,  Com- 
modore Truxtun,  in  the  Constellation, 
came  in  sight  of  a  large  ship,  and  im- 
mediately gave  chase.  The  stranger 
hoisted  American  colours ;  but,  unable 
to  answer  the  Constellation's  private 
signals,  she  ran  up  the  French  ensign,  and  fired  a 
challenge.  For  the  first  time  since  the  Revolution, 
one  of  our  national  vessels  was  in  sight  of  an  enemy. 
We  had  fought  and  triumphed  on  land ;  now  we 
were  to  meet  the  powers  of  the  Old  World  upon  sea. 
Every  man  was  eager  to  engage ;  and,  as  the  gallant 


384  WAR   WITH   FRANCE. 

ship  moved  down  upon  the  enemy,  her  speed  seemed 
too  small  to  meet  the  anxious  longing  of  her  crew. 
They  were  not  disappointed.  The  Insurgente  waited 
calmly  for  her  opponent ;  and,  when  the  latter  opened 
her  fire,  returned  it  with  spirit.  The  silence  was 
broken;  the  eager  antagonists  had  their  wish;  and 
one  loud  cannonade  roared  across  the  solitary  waters, 
rocking  the  surface  of  ocean  like  an  earthquake,  and 
heaving  the  ships  to  and  fro  with  mighty  energy. 
Nearer  and  nearer  they  drew  to  each  other,  and 
louder  and  fiercer  the  conflict  grew,  until  nothing  was 
heard  but  the  roar  of  heavy  ordnance,  and  nothing 
seen  except  a  thick  black  pall,  shooting  forth  columns 
of  flame.  Volleys  of  heavy  shot  were  poured  into 
the  American  foretopmast,  until  it  reeled  and  swung 
backwards  under  the  terrible  blows.  The  young 
midshipman  who  commanded  it  (David  Porter), 
called  again  and  again  to  his  superior  for  leave  to 
lower  the  sail  and  relieve  the  pressure ;  but  his  voice 
was  lost  in  the  uproar  of  battle.  Feeling  that  the 
mast  must  fall,  unless  this  were  done,  he  assumed  the 
responsibility,  and  thus  saved  the  ship  from  a  serious 
misfortune.  Her  broadsides  now  raked  the  enemy 
from  stem  to  stern,  crashing  masts,  sails,  and  rigging, 
and  strewing  the  deck  with  dead  and  dying.  The 
Constellation  then  glided  from  the  shroud  of  smoke, 
sailed  round  to  her  opponent's  rear,  and  was  on  the 
point  of  raking  her  again,  when  the  latter  struck  her 
colours. 

The  Insurgente  was  one  of  the  fastest  sailers  in 
the  French  navy,  and  was  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Barreault.  She  carried  forty  French  twelve- 


CAPTURE    OF    L'INSURGENTE.  385 

pounders,  and  four  hundred  and  nine  men.  Her  loss 
was  twenty-nine  killed,  and  forty-one  wounded.  The 
Constellation  had  thirty-eight  guns  (English  calibre), 
three  hundred  and  nine  men,  and  had  three  of  her 
crew  wounded. 

An  incident  subsequent  to  the  battle  deserves  men- 
tion. The  first  lieutenant  of  the  Constellation,  Mr. 
Rodgers,  with  Midshipman  Porter  and  eleven  men, 
were  placed  on  board  the  prize  to  superintend  the  re- 
moval of  prisoners.  While  engaged  in  this  duty,  the 
wind  arose  almost  to  a  hurricane,  night  set  in,  and  one 
hundred  and  seventy-three  of  the  crew  still  remained 
on  board.  So  strong  was  the  action  of  the  waves, 
that  the  ships  were  often  widely  separated,  and  then 
driven  with  fearful  violence  almost  to  a  collision.  At 
length,  notwithstanding  every  exertion,  the  prize  was 
driven  completely  out  of  sight. 

At  this  opportunity,  so  unexpectedly  offered,  the 
prisoners  began  to  exhibit  unequivocal  signs  of  revolt. 
To  the  handful  who  watched  them  this  movement 
would  have  been  fatal;  but  the  intrepid  Rodgers 
showed  himself  equal  to  the  emergency.  Ordering 
all  the  prisoners  to  the  hold,  he  secured  the  fire-arms, 
and  placed  a  sentinel  at  each  hatchway,  with  positive 
orders  to  shoot  every  man  who  should  attempt  to 
mount  the  deck.  In  this  unenviable  situation  he 
remained  three  days,  watching  his  prisoners  with 
sleepless  vigilance,  and  exhorting  his  men  never  to 
surrender  their  prize.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he 
arrived  safely  in  St.  Kitt's,  where  the  Constellation 
was  already  anchored. 

33  Bb 


Commodore   Trustun. 


THE  CONSTELLATION  AND  VENGEANCE. 


fgHE  battle  between  the  Constellation 
and  Vengeance  (February  2d, 
1800),  is  one  of  the  most  indu- 
bitable proofs  in  history  of  the 
American  naval  superiority,  both 
in  manosuvring  and  action.  The 
French  frigate  had  been  descried  on  the  previous  day, 
when  Commodore  Truxturi  hoisted  English  colours. 


THE  CONSTELLATION  AND  VENGEANCE.  389 

These,  however,  were  disregarded,  and  a  chase  com- 
menced, which  continued  all  night,  and  through  the 
following  day.  At  eight  in  the  evening,  Truxtun  was 
about  speaking  his  opponent,  when  the  latter  suddenly 
commenced  firing.  Flight  and  pursuit  were  now 
abandoned,  and  each  commander  prepared  for  a 
violent  struggle.  The  night  was  dark ;  and  the  sullen 
dashings  of  the  waters  seemed  in  unison  with  the 
terrible  storm  that  was  soon  to  hurry  man  into  con- 
flict with  his  fellow  man. 

At  a  few  minutes  past  eight,  the  Constellation 
poured  a  heavy  broadside  into  her  antagonist,  which 
was  answered  by  a  wide  sheet  of  flame,  followed  by 
another  and  another,  until  the  pitchy  gloom  was  lighted 
up  by  the  incessant  volcanic  glare.  Side  by  side 
those  two  ships  sat  upon  the  waters,  flinging  out  their 
crashing  hail,  and  rolling  with  terrific  violence  upon 
the  heaving  ocean.  Minutes  and  hours  rolled  on ;  the 
night  grew  deeper  and  blacker,  and  the  wind  howled 
and  shrieked  along  the  heavens.  But  man  heeded 
not  the  elements.  Far  over  the  ocean  was  that  red 
dismal  glare  beheld ;  and  the  distant  mariner  started 
from  his  dreaming  berth,  and  bent  forward  to  catch  the 
faint  lingering  of  that  wild  revel.  At  intervals  each 
crew  heard  the  shouts  of  opposing  officers  and  the 
cheers  of  battle.  The  same  voice  that  had  rung  out 
against  the  Insurgente  was  driving  the  Americans  to 
battle ;  while,  as  though  in  stern  mockery,  the  French 
commander  poured  his  thrilling  appeals  to  his  sailors. 
That  night  battle  was  a  scene  terrible  and  sublime. 

At  one  o'clock,  the  French  vessel  drew  from  the 
combat,  and  spread  sail.  Sure  of  victory,  Truxtun 
33* 


390  WAR   WITH   FRANCE. 

ordered  a  chase,  but  at  that  moment  received  the 
disheartening  intelligence,  that  every  shroud  had  been 
shot  from  the  mainmast,  which  was  supported  only 
by  its  wood.  But,  anxious  to  risk  everything  in  order 
to  secure  the  prize,  he  ordered  his  men  to  secure  it 
long  enough  to  come  up  with  the  enemy.  But  no  ex- 
ertion could  obviate  the  calamity,  and  the  mast  went 
by  the  board,  in  a  few  minutes  after  the  enemy  had 
retired. 

In  this  long-disputed  action  the  Constellation  lost 
fourteen  men  killed,  and  twenty-five  wounded,  eleven 
of  whom  subsequently  died.  Her  whole  crew  was 
three  hundred  and  ten  souls.  The  armament  of 
the  Vengeance  was  twenty-eight  eighteens,  sixteen 
twelves,  and  eight  forty-two  pound  carronades.  Her 
crew  was  between  four  and  five  hundred  men,  and 
her  loss  fifty  killed  and  one  hundred  and  ten  wounded. 
When  arriving  in  Curacoa,  she  was  in  a  sinking  con- 
dition; and  there  can  be  little  doubt,  that  had  the 
action  recommenced,  her  capture  would  have  been 
inevitable. 


Commodore   Decatur. 


BURNING  OF  THE  PHILADELPHIA. 


SHE  successful  attack  on  the  Phila- 
delphia (February  16,  1804),  laid 
the  foundation  of  Decatur's  fame. 
The  plan  of  the  assault  was  not 
more  admirable  than  the  chivalric 
daring  with  which  it  was  executed, 
or  the  little  loss  that  attended  it. 


394  WAR   WITH   TRIPOLI. 

Its  influence  on  both  belligerents  was  incalculable,  and 
gave  a  new  complexion  to  all  the  subsequent  ope- 
rations of  the  war. 

The  Siren  and  Intrepid  had  sailed  on  the  3d,  under 
orders  to  burn  the  Philadelphia.  Stormy  weather 
attended  them  until  the  15th;  a  cakn  succeeded; 
and  Decatur,  with  about  eighty  men,  made  his  re- 
connoissances  for  attack.  These  were  continued  until 
the  afternoon  of  the  following  day,  when  the  ship 
became  visible.  She  remained  in  the  same  condition 
as  when  grounded,  except  that  her  lower  rigging  was 
standing,  and  her  guns  were  loaded  and  shotted. 
Near  her  lay  two  corsairs,  a  few  gun-boats,  and  two 
galleys. 

As  the  twilight  declined,  and  the  shades  of  evening 
gathered  round,  the  Intrepid,  slowly  winding  amid 
rocks  and  shoals,  approached  her  intended  object. 
The  deep  blue  sky,  purified  by  the  late  storm,  was 
reflected  from  the  tranquil  water,  as  from  a  mirror ; 
while  the  young  moon,  like  a  crescent  gem,  hung  fair 
and  beautiful  over  the  peaceful  scene.  Gradually,  as 
evening  deepened,  the  wind  died  away,  until  scarcely 
a  breath  swept  across  the  waters,  and  the  Intrepid  lay 
as  immoveable  as  though  founded  on  a  rock.  Then  a 
ripple  would  dim  the  bright  surface,  a  slight  breeze 
sweep  on  the  vessel,  and  silently  it  would  continue  its 
swan-like  course.  How  great  the  contrast  of  sleeping 
nature,  with  the  feelings  of  that  crew !  On  the  deck 
stood  their  leader,  every  muscle  rigid  with  expectation, 
and  his  restless  eye  piercing  through  the  surrounding 
night.  At  his  feet  lay  his  men  in  concealment, 
panting  with  expectation  of  the  approaching  struggle. 


BURNING   OF   THE   PHILADELPHIA.  395 

Not  a  sound  broke  the  oppressive  silence— it  was  a 
pause  stern  and  terrible. 

Suddenly  a  voice  came  ringing  over  the  sea.  They 
•were  hailed  by  the  Moorish  crew.  A  conversation 
took  place,  which  was  maintained  under  an  assumed 
character  on  the  part  of  the  Americans,  until  the  wind 
suddenly  shifted  and  brought  their  vessel  within  com- 
plete range  of  the  frigate's  guns.  Their  situation  was 
now  perilous — a  single  broadside  would  have  sent  the 
Intrepid  to  the  bottom.  Fortunately  no  suspicion  had 
as  yet  been  excited,  and  the  Turks  even  sent  a  boat 
to  the  assistance  of  the  supposed  unfortunate  stranger. 
In  a  few  moments  the  Intrepid  was  alongside  of  her 
prey.  Instantly  Decatur  sprang  to  the  side  of  the 
vessel.  "Board!"  he  shouted  to  his  crew,  and  the 
astonished  Turks  beheld  their  deck  swarming  with 
armed  troops.  Decatur's  foot  slipped  in  springing, 
so  that  Mr.  Charles  Morris  had  the  honour  of  being 
first  on  the  quarter-deck.  In  a  moment  his  com- 
mander and  a  Mr.  Laws  were  at  his  side,  while  heads 
and  bodies  appeared  coming  over  the  rail,  and  through 
the  ports  in  all  directions. 

Never  was  surprise  more  complete.  The  enemy 
hurried  in  disordered  crowds  from  place  to  place, 
some  crying  for  quarter,  others  climbing  the  shrouds, 
and  others  leaping  overboard.  In  ten  minutes  the 
enemy  were  swept  away,  and  the  gallant  Decatur  had 
undisputed  possession  of  his  prize. 

And  now  a  shade  of  sorrow  dimmed  the  victor's 
joys.  That  proud  vessel,  whose  deck  he  had  often 
paced,  in  company  with  his  nation's  defenders,  and 
for  which  he  had  faced  such  danger,  must  before 


396  WAR    WITH    TRIPOLI. 

morning  be  given  to  the  flames.  It  would  have  been 
happiness  to  bring  her  from  the  sands,  and  once  more 
restore  her  to  her  sister  fleet ;  but  this  was  impossible. 
The  combustibles  were  now  ordered  from  the  In- 
trepid, and  in  a  few  minutes  the  flames  were  sweeping 
and  hissing  along  her  sides.  The  greedy  element 
licked  up  the  spars  and  rigging,  like  chaff,  and  burst- 
ing sheets  of  fire  drove  the  victors  to  their  ketch.  The 
flames  burst  from  the  port-holes,  glanced  like  lightning 
along  the  sides,  and  flashed  in  the  faces  of  the  adven- 
turers. The  ketch  became  jammed  against  the  frigate, 
and  all  her  ammunition  was  in  danger  of  igniting. 
The  crew,  however,  extricated  themselves  by  their 
swords,  and  soon  escaped  from  their  dangerous  position. 
Then  they  paused,  turned  one  exulting  gaze  toward 
the  burning  vessel,  and  poured  their  feelings  in  one 
wild  shout  of  victory.  That  sound  had  not  yet  sub- 
sided, when  the  land  batteries,  the  corsairs  and  galleys, 
burst  forth  in  one  simultaneous  roar.  Showers  of 
balls  and  shot  came  whistling  around  the  men,  plung- 
ing and  splashing  among  the  waters,  and  throwing 
the  spray  in  all  directions.  But,  elated  by  success,  the 
crew  hastened  not,  heeded  not.  That  spectacle  was 
terrible  to  sublimity.  The  Philadelphia  was  in  one 
wide  blaze.  Sheets  of  flame  flashed  along  her  rolling 
hull,  danced  among  her  rigging,  and,  collecting  along 
the  masts,  fell  down  with  sullen  report  toward  the 
water.  The  waves  seemed  like  melted  brass.  All 
Tripoli  was  in  uproar.  Thousands  of  people  were 
standing  in  fearful  anxiety,  gazing  upon  the  conflagra- 
tion ;  volumes  of  smoke  were  unfolding  heavily  along 
the  heavens ;  batteries  were  roaring  on  all  sides ; 


BURNING    OF   THE    PHILADELPHIA. 


397 


ships  passing  to  and  fro ;  within  a  few  miles  all  nature 
appeared  convulsed.  Yet  the  little  craft  bore  on,  till 
the  balls  ceased  to  whistle  near  them,  and  they  were 
free  from  danger.  Then,  for  the  first  time,  each  man 
thought  of  what  he  had  accomplished,  and  gazed  in 
astonishment  at  his  fellows.  Steadily  the  Intrepid 
bore  on,  until  she  met  the  boats  of  the  Siren,  sent  to 
cover  her  retreat.  In  a  few  moments  one  of  these 
returned  to  the  Siren,  bringing  a  man  dressed  in  a  sail- 
or's jacket.  He  sprang  over  the  gangway — it  was  a 
messenger  of  victory,  Decatur  himself. 


34 


Commodore   Freble. 


BOMBARDMENT  OF  TRIPOLI. 


N  order  to  have  a  cor- 
rect idea  of  the  terrible 
scene  attending  the 
bombardment  of  Tri- 
poli, it  will  be  necessary 
to  take  a  view  of  the 
respective  forces  of  the 
combatants.  The  fleet 
of  Commodore  Preble 
consisted  of  one  frigate 


BOMBARDMENT    OF    TRIPOLI.  401 

(the  Constitution),  three  brigs,  three  schooners,  six  gun- 
boats, and  two  bombard-ketches ;  carrying  in  all  one 
hundred  and  sixty-four  guns,  and  one  thousand  and 
sixty  men.  The  castle  and  batteries  of  the  enemy 
mounted  one  hundred  and  fifteen  guns,  of  which  forty- 
five  were  heavy  brass  battering-cannon.  Beside  these, 
there  were  nineteen  gun-boats,  each  carrying  a  heavy 
twenty-four-pounder  and  two  howitzers ;  two  schoon- 
ers of  eight  guns  each,  a  brig  of  ten,  and  two  galleys, 
each  of  four  guns.  The  regular  garrison  and  crews 
numbered  three  thousand  men,  and  they  were  assisted 
by  twenty  thousand  Arabs. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  3d  of  August,  1804, 
signal  was  given  for  a  general  attack  upon  the  town. 
It  was  commenced  by  bombs  and  heavy  shot.  In  a 
moment  two  hundred  cannon  opened  upon  the 
American  fleet,  and  Tripoli  seemed  shrouded  in  fire. 
The  smoke  from  the  ships  meeting  that  on  shore, 
formed  one  black  canopy,  under  which  the  fierce 
combatants  hurled  forth  their  volleys  of  blasting 
flame.  Through  this  dense  darkness  bombs  were 
passing  and  repassing,  scattering  red-hot  fragments 
in  all  directions,  and  sweeping  everything  before  them 
as  they  struck  at  the  desired  object.  The  water 
ploughed  and  boiled  with  the  incessant  plunges,  and 
the  strong-built  houses  of  Tripoli  tottered  as  though 
in  an  earthquake. 

While  the  main  forces  were  conducting  the  bom- 
bardment, Captain  Decatur,  with  his  three  gun-boats, 
attacked  nine  of  the  enemy's.  A  few  moments,  and 
these  little  squadrons  were  rocking  with  their  own 
cannonadings.  These  died  away  as  the  boats  neared 
34*  cc 


402  WAR    WITH    TRIPOLI. 

each  other,  and  then  succeeded  the  clash  of  bayonets 
and  the  ringing  of  sabres.  Decatur  seized  a  boat, 
and  boarded  her  with  but  fifteen  men.  Five  Turks 
rushed  at  him  with  their  scimetars.  The  moment 
was  big  with  importance.  On  his  life  hung  the 
conduct  and  fate  of  his  men.  But  with  the  rapidity 
of  thought  he  parried  every  blow,  and  drove  back  his 
antagonists  unharmed.  The  captain,  a  powerful 
Turk,  rushed  at  him  and  severed  his  blade;  but 
Decatur  closed  with  him,  and  both  came  to  the  deck. 
Although  the  American  was  under  his  antagonist,  he 
managed  to  draw  his  pistol,  with  which  he  shot  the 
Turk  dead.  Part  of  his  crew  then  rushed  to  his 
assistance,  and  soon  cleared  the  boat.  With  eight 
men  he  then  advanced  against  another  of  the  fleet, 
and  carried  it  after  a  desperate  encounter.  The 
obstinacy  of  the  enemy  in  these  conflicts  made  the 
slaughter  immense.  The  two  prizes  had  thirty-three 
officers  and  men  killed,  and  nineteen  out  of  twenty- 
seven  prisoners  wounded. 

Meanwhile,  Lieutenant  Trippe  boarded  one  of  the 
enemy's  large  boats,  with  only  a  midshipman  (Jona- 
than Henry)  and  nine  men.  At  the  moment  of 
boarding  his  boat  fell  away,  and  thus  eleven  men 
were  left  to  wrestle  with  thirty-six.  The  battle  was 
fearful,  but  short.  Fourteen  of  the  enemy  were 
killed,  seven  badly  wounded,  and  the  rest  taken 
prisoners.  Lieutenant  Trippe  received  eleven  sabre 
wounds,  and  fell  while  wrestling  with  his  enemy. 
The  lieutenant  succeeded  in  getting  his  opponent's 
sword,  with  which  he  killed  him. 

In  this  manner  the  battle  raged  for  more  than  two 


BOMBARDMENT    OF    TRIPOLI.  403 

hours,  the  batteries  working  within  pistol-shot,  and 
every  gun  in  uninterrupted  blast.  At  half-past  four 
Commodore  Preble  gave  signal  to  the  smaller  vessels 
to  withdraw;  and  soon  after  the  whole  fleet  were 
retiring  from  the  town,  under  cover  of  a  fire  from  the 
Constitution. 

The  smallness  of  the  American  loss  in  this  fierce 
cannonade  must  ever  remain  a  matter  of  astonish- 
ment. But  one  man  was  killed — Lieutenant  Decatur, 
brother  of  the  captain.  One  man1  had  his  arm 
shattered,  and  several  others  were  wounded.  The 
Constitution  was  considerably  injured,  and  the  other 
vessels  suffered  in  their  rigging. 

Vastly  different  was  the  effect  upon  the  enemy. 
Of  one  hundred  and  three  men  on  board  the  captured 
boats,  only  thirty  were  fit  for  duty.  Three  other 
boats  were  sunk  with  their  entire  crews,  and  the 
decks  of  the  remaining  vessels  were  swept  of  numbers. 
The  town  itself  was  considerably  damaged,  and  the 
inhabitants  thrown  into  the  greatest  consternation. 
Many  fled  into  the  interior;  and,  of  the  thousands 
who  swarmed  the  house-tops  to  witness  the  com- 
mencement of  the  battle,  not  ©ne  was  left  ten  minutes 
after  it  had  begun. 

On  the  7th  of  August,  the  second  bombardment  of 
Tripoli  commenced.  The  ships  opened  their  fire  at 
half-past  two,  and  continued  three  hours.  Forty- 
eight  shells,  and  five  hundred  twenty-four-pound  round 
shot  were  thrown  into  the  town,  one  battery  silenced, 
and  several  boats  injured.  The  Americans  lost  a 
prize  boat,  which  blew  up,  together  with  twenty-four 
killed  and  four  wounded.  The  bashaw  being  still 


404  WAR    WITH    TRIPOLI. 

determined  to  pursue  his  aggressions  against  the 
Americans,  a  third  assault  was  determined  upon.  At 
two  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  24th,  the  work  of 
death  recommenced.  The  moon  was  shining  with 
uncommon  brightness,  and  all  nature  lay  as  though 
exhausted  with  the  heat  of  the  preceding  day.  The 
white  buildings  of  the  town,  mellowed  by  the  flood  of 
light,  seemed  still  and  solitary  as  the  regions  of 
Arabian  fairy  land.  Far  away  in  the  distance  the 
palm  trees  drooped  their  graceful  tops,  and  further 
still  the  mountains  of  Barbary  seemed,  Atlas-like,  to 
be  supporting  the  heavens.  As  the  ships  glided  slowly 
into  station,  they  seemed  strange  and  unnatural ;  in- 
truders into  the  sacred  repose  of  so  lovely  a  spectacle. 
But  this  hushed  tranquillity,  this  peaceful  repose  of 
nature,  was  destined  to  a  rude  awakening.  A  single 
bomb  burst  faintly  on  the  silence,  swept  across  the 
starry  arch,  and  dropped  into  the  town.  Another 
followed ;  and  then  one  tremendous  roar  burst  along 
the  startled  fleet,  lashing  the  waters  into  maddening 
surges,  and  stunning  the  air  for  miles  around.  Ranks 
of  liquid  fire  blazed  in  every  direction,  and  hundreds 
of  flashing  shot  rushed, through  the  void,  toward  the 
devoted  town.  Then  a  pause ;  and  then  the  terrible 
answer,  crashing  and  plunging  in  and  around  the 
vessels,  and  throwing  fountains  of  spray  over  the 
decks  and  rigging.  Again  the  ships  hurled  forth  their 
defiance,  the  batteries  replying  until  intermission  failed, 
and  one  uninterrupted  uproar  shook  land  and  sea. 
The  hours  rolled  dreadfully  on ;  but  that  death-work 
Deemed  endless ;  and  the  sun  had  begun  careering  in 


BOMBARDMENT    OF   TRIPOLI.  405 

the  east  before  the  mad  passions  of  man  had  ceased 
to  struggle. 

This  bombardment  having  been  productive  of  little 
effect,  a  combined  attack  upon  the  town  and  bashaw's 
castle  was  soon  after  (August  28th)  made.  The  gun- 
boats and  smaller  vessels  anchored  within,  among  the 
rocks  of  the  harbour.  Thirteen  of  the  enemy's  boats 
engaged  eight  of  the  Americans',  when  the  Constitu- 
tion sailed  by,  ordered  the  latter  to  retire,  and  deli- 
vered a  fire  which  sunk  a  Tripolitan  boat,  drove  two 
others  on  the  rocks,  and  obliged  the  remainder  to 
retire.  The  frigate  then  commenced  a  fierce  attack 
upon  the  town  and  castle,  continuing  it  for  three-quar- 
ters of  an  hour,  with  considerable  effect.  The  castle 
and  two  batteries  were  silenced,  many  houses  destroy- 
ed, and  some  men  killed.  A  boat  of  the  Americans 
was  sunk,  a  few  men  killed,  and  several  badly  wounded. 

On  the  3d  of  September,  the  fifth  and  last  bom- 
bardment of  Tripoli  took  place.  The  action  com- 
menced a  little  after  three  P.  M.,  and  soon  became 
general.  In  about  half  an  hour,  the  battle  became 
divided ;  a  part  of  the  fleet  bombarding  the  town, 
and  the  remainder  engaging  the  enemy's  squadron. 
Taught  by  former  experience,  each  party  seemed  to 
rely  principally  on  manoeuvring,  during  which  many 
of  the  vessels  were  so  much  injured  as  to  be  unfit  for 
sailing.  Yet,  although  the  shipping  suffered  so  mate- 
rially, not  a  man  of  the  Americans  was  injured.  The 
action  closed  at  half  past  four. 

On  the  following  day,  took  place  the  most  terrible 
event  of  this  fierce  struggle.  We  allude  to  the 


LOSS  OF  THE  INTREPID. 


— \|  HE  name  of  this  ves- 
sel    is    associated 
with   some  of  the 
most  daring  deeds 
of  modern  warfare ; 
J  her    fate    was     in 
f  strange       keeping 
with      her      repu- 
tation. 

On  the  evening 
of  September  4th,  she  was  despatched  by  Commodore 
Preble  as  a  fire-ship,  to  explode  among  the  enemy's 
cruisers.  It  was  commanded  by  Captain  Somers, 
and  his  second,  Lieutenant  Wadsworth,  with  ten 
other  men.  A  deep  mist  had  brooded  over  the 
water,  and  the  stars  were  seen  dim,  as  though  half- 


LOSS    OF    THE    INTREPID.  409 

extinguished.  A  gloom  hung  over  the  American 
seamen ;  for  those  bold  comrades  whom  they  were 
sending  forth  were  to  return  no  more,  unless  they 
could  escape  unperceived  from  the  enemy.  The 
captain  had  declared  his  intention  of  exploding  the 
vessel  in  case  of  being  boarded  by  the  Tripolitans ; 
and  now  those  who  knew  his  worth — who  had  stood 
by  his  side  in  danger  as  in  prosperity — yearned  over 
him  with  the  honest  sympathy  of  sailors.  Pale  with 
repressed  anxiety,  the  commodore  gave  them  his 
parting  instructions,  and  the  ketch  swept  forward 
through  the  water  toward  its  object. 

The  manner  in  which  the  fire-ship  was  prepared 
for  her  dreadful  work,  is  thus  described  by  Mr. 
Cooper,  in  his  Naval  History : 

"A  small  room  or  magazine  had  been  planked 
up  in  the  hold  of  the  ketch,  just  forward  of  her 
principal  mast.  Communicating  with  this  magazine 
was  a  trunk  or  tube,  that  led  aft  to  another  room 
filled  with  combustibles.  In  the  planked  room,  or 
magazine,  were  placed  one  hundred  barrels  of  gun- 
powder, in  bulk ;  and  on  the  deck  immediately  above 
the  powder,  were  laid  fifteen  thirteen  and  a  half  inch 
shells,  and  one  hundred  nine-inch  shells,  with  a  large 
quantity  of  shot,  pieces  of  kentledge,  and  fragments 
of  iron  of  different  sorts.  A  train  was  laid  in  the 
trunk  or  tube,  and  fuses  were  attached  in  the  proper 
manner.  In  addition  to  this  arrangement,  the  other 
small  room  mentioned  was  filled  with  splinters  and 
light  wood ;  which,  besides  firing  the  train,  were  to 
keep  the  enemy  from  boarding,  as  the  flames  would 
35 


410  WAR    WITH    TRIPOLI. 

be  apt  to  induce  them  to  apprehend  an  immediate 
explosion." 

And  now  the  fearful  voyage  commenced.  Slowly 
the  canvas  of  the  devoted  craft  receded  into  the 
distance,  until  she  seemed  like  some  shadowy  spirit, 
struggling  and  writhing  with  the  darkness.  Hearts 
that  had  swelled  to  the  rigidity  of  iron,  grew  chilly 
and  palpitating  as  the  eye  hung  on  the  lessening 
folds ;  and  a  strange  restlessness,  a  solitary  pang  for 
the  horrors  of  war,  crossed  each  bosom.  Decatur 
himself,  who  moved  among  the  mighty  as  the 
mightiest,  stood  like  a  statue  upon  the  deck,  his  eye 
peering  through  the  darkness,  and  his  noble  form 
thrilling  with  intense  feeling.  Not  a  sound  was  heard; 
nature  seemed  suspended.  More  and  more  faint  the 
sails  become,  until  only  by  turns  are  they  revealed 
through  the  darkness.  Sometimes  a  blast  of  wind 
strikes  the  water,  heaves  the  vessel  on  its  bosom,  and 
displays  her  to  the  sight;  then  she  suddenly  sinks, 
and  all  is  black.  Now  the  spectators  strain  and  lean 
from  their  stations,  and  pray  for  one  rnore  glance ; 
but  still  all  is  blackness. 

Suddenly  every  man  started.  A  report  cracked 
along  the  strung  nerves ;  a  thick  light  gleamed 
through  the  night ;  the  enemy  had  opened  their 
guns.  Anxiety  changed  to  agony.  One  ball  would 
hurl  the  ketch  and  her  crew  into  mangled  atoms ;  and 
how  was  such  a  catastrophe  avoidable?  Battery 
after  battery  opened,  glaring  through  the  blackness, 
lashing  the  surges  into  fury  with  their  iron  showers, 
and  filling  the  spectators  with  feelings  unutterable. 
Now  and  then,  by  the  help  of  one  volcanic  flash,  the 


LOSS    OF    THE    INTREPID.  411 

fearless  sail  would  appear,  careering  in  the  jaws  of 
death,  like  some  white  spirit  of  destruction.  Time 
seemed  standing  still.  Yet  deeper,  louder,  more 
thrilling,  the  uproar  swelled,  until  earth,  sea,  air — all 
nature — seemed  battling  in  convulsions.  Tripoli  had 
never  witnessed  a  night  like  that. 

Suddenly  a  column  of  massive  fire,  to  which  the 
united  efforts  of  every  battery  seemed  like  the 
mockery  of  tapers,  swept  up  to  heaven,  tossing  the 
boiling  ocean  like  a  ball,  and  lighting  the  coast  for 
leagues.  Then  a  report,  as  if  the  elements  were 
crashing  with  each  other ;  and  every  vessel  shook 
like  a  leaf  in  autumn.  After  the  first  stunning  blow, 
men  gazed  on  each  other  in  consternation ;  the 
nerves  shrunk  and  quivered,  through  fear  of  a  repe- 
tition. There  was  no  inquiry ;  each  knew — each  felt 
the  truth.  Darkness,  three-fold  dense,  succeeded; 
every  gun  hushed,  and  stillness  fell  like  a  mountain 
upon  every  heart.  Oh,  the  racking  of  that  moment ! 
The  roar  of  cannon — the  struggling  of  battle — would 
have  been  wild,  sweet  music,  to  the  tortured  system. 
A  world  of  horror  was  crowded  into  every  moment, 
and  man  ceased  for  a  while  to  breathe. 

The  Intrepid  was  but  a  name.  The  crew !  where 
were  they  ?  After  the  first  shock  had  subsided,  the 
sailors  leaped  over  the  sides  of  the  vessels,  held  up 
their  lanterns,  and  placed  their  ears  to  the  water  to 
catch  the  dash  of  oars.  How  fearful  was  the  pause ! 
None  could  resign  hope — that  crew  could  not  be  lost 
— they  must  meet  once  more  with  their  comrades, 
and  narrate  the  thrilling  tale.  Imagination  swallowed 
up  judgment;  and  "I  hear  them — they  are  coming," 


412 


WAR    WITH    TRIPOLI. 


often  warmed  each  bosom  with  joy.  Then  there  was 
silence,  and  the  watch  was  again  renewed.  Hope 
again  died — time  rolled  on — the  whole  truth  was 
being  told.  Their  oars  were  never  again  heard. 
How  that  vessel  exploded,  none  ever  knew;  the 
awful  sublimity  of  her  fate  was  not  to  be  lessened  by 
a  disclosure  of  its  cause. 

Not  a  single  gun  was  fired  after  the  explosion; 
both  parties  seemed  bewildered ;  and,  for  a  few  days, 
operations  against  the  city  were  suspended. 


General    Eaton. 


EXPEDITION  OF  GENERAL  EATON. 


I 


N  the  African  expedition,  the 
Americans  were  not  confined 
to  naval  operations.  We 
have  elsewhere  remarked 
that  the  Tripolitan  war  was 
conducted  with  a  chivalry 
and  display  of  personal  da- 
ring rarely  equalled  in  mo- 
==^==^~  dern  warfare.  Its  conclusion 
was  the  romantic  expedition 


414  WAR    WITH    TRIPOLI. 

of  General  Eaton ;  an  appropriate  closing  for  deeds 
of  such  remarkable  intrepidity. 

Jussuf  Carawalli,  the  Bashaw  of  Tripoli,  during 
hostilities  with  the  United  States,  was  indebted  for 
his  eminence  to  a  successful  usurpation.  Hamet,  his 
elder  brother,  and  the  rightful  heir,  had  fled  from  the 
dangers  of  his  own  country,  and,  after  wandering  in 
the  desert  for  a  long  while,  joined  himself  to  the 
Egyptian  Mamelukes.  Among  these  he  was  sought 
and  found  by  Mr.  Eaton,  American  envoy  to  Tunis, 
who,  having  obtained  consent  of  government,  deter- 
mined to  reinstate  him.  The  proposal  was  favoured 
by  the  viceroy  of  Egypt,  who  permitted  Hamet  to 
pass  from  that  kingdom,  notwithstanding  his  con- 
nexion with  the  Mamelukes,  with  whom  the  govern- 
ment was  at  war. 

In  company  with  the  deposed  prince,  and  a  small 
party  of  adventurers  from  all  nations,  Mr.  Eaton 
(under  the  title  of  general),  commenced  his  march 
toward  Tripoli.  They  crossed  the  desert  of  Barca 
from  Alexandria,  and  in  April,  1805,  arrived  before 
Derne.  Having  received  arms  and  supplies  from  part 
of  the  fleet  under  Captain  Hull,  they  attacked  this 
place  on  the  27th,  at  two  P.  M.  The  adventurers 
advanced  rapidly  to  the  attack,  and  were  received  with 
spirit  and  firmness.  An  incessant  roll  of  musketry 
was  kept  up  for  more  than  an  hour,  when  Lieutenant 
O'Bannan  and  Mr.  Mann  stormed  the  principal  work, 
hauling  down  the  Tripolitan  ensign,  and,  for  the  first 
time,  hoisting  that  of  our  country  on  a  fortress  of  the 
Old  World.  The  whole  town  surrendered  imme- 
diately after.  Fourteen  of  the  assailants  were  killed 


EATON'S   EXPEDITION. 


415 


or  wounded,  Eaton  among  the  latter.  They  numbered 
twelve  hundred,  and  their  opponents  three  thousand.  ;, 
General  Eaton  was  prevented  from  following  up 
his  victory  by  an  attack  on  Tripoli,  through  want  of 
supplies ;  and,  soon  after,  a  permanent  treaty  between 
the  two  nations  put  an  end  to  his  spirited  enterprise. 


General    Harrison. 


BATTLE  OF  TIPPECANOE. 


UST  about  seven  months  before 
the  United  States  declared 
war  against  Great  Britain,  the 
Northwestern  Indians,  stimu- 
lated to  hostility  by  British 
agents,  having  assailed  our 
Northwestern  frontier,  Generai 

__ Harrison,   then   Governor  of 

Indiana,  was  sent  to  chastise  them.  This  he  did  ef- 
fectually, at  the  famous  battle  of  Tippecanoe.  The 
battle  is  thus  described  by  McAffee  in  his  history : 


BATTLE   OF   TIPPECANOE.  417 

On  the  evening  of  the  5th  of  November,  the 
army  encamped  at  the  distance  of  nine  or  ten  miles 
from  the  Prophet's  Town.  It  was  ascertained  that  the 
approach  of  the  army  had  been  discovered  before  it 
reached  Pine  Creek.  The  traces  of  reconnoitering 
parties  were  very  often  seen,  but  no  Indians  were 
discovered  until  the  troops  arrived  within  five  or  six 
miles  of  the  town,  on  the  6th  of  November.  The 
interpreters  were  then  placed  with  the  advanced 
guard,  to  endeavour  to  open  a  communication  with 
them.  The  Indians  would,  however,  return  no  answer 
to  the  invitations  that  were  made  to  them  for  that 
purpose,  but  continued  to  insult  our  people  by  their 
gestures.  Within  about  three  miles  of  the  town,  the 
ground  became  broken  by  ravines  and  covered  with 
timber.  The  utmost  precaution  became  necessary, 
and  every  difficult  pass  was  examined  by  the  mounted 
riflemen  before  the  army  was  permitted  to  enter  it. 
The  ground  being  unfit  for  the  operation  of  the  squad- 
ron of  dragoons,  they  were  thrown  in  the  rear. 
Through  the  whole  march,  the  precaution  had  been 
used  of  changing  the  disposition  of  the  different 
corps,  that  each  might  have  the  ground  best  suited  to 
its  operations. 

Within  about  two  miles  of  the  town,  the  path  de- 
scended a  steep  hill,  at  the  bottom  of  which  was  a 
small  creek  running  through  a  narrow  wet  prairie, 
and  beyond  this  a  level  plain  partially  covered  with 
oak  timber,  and  without  underbrush.  Before  the 
crossing  of  the  creek,  the  woods  were  very  thick  and 
intersected  by  deep  ravines.  No  place  could  be  better 
calculated  for  the  savages  to  attack  with  a  prospect 

Dd 


418  INDIAN  WAR. 

of  success ;  and  the  governor  apprehended,  that  the 
moment  the  troops  descended  into  the  hollow,  they 
would  be  attacked.  A  disposition  was  therefore  made 
of  the  infantry  to  receive  the  enemy  on  the  left  and 
rear.  A  company  of  mounted  riflemen  was  advanced 
a  considerable  distance  from  the  left  flank  to  check 
the  approach  of  the  enemy ;  and  the  other  two  com- 
panies were  directed  to  turn  the  enemy's  flanks,  should 
he  attack  in  that  direction.  The  dragoons  were 
ordered  to  move  rapidly  from  the  rear,  and  occupy 
the  plain  in  advance  of  the  creek,  to  cover  the  crossing 
of  the  army  from  an  attack  in  front.  In  this  order 
the  troops  were  passed  over;  the  dragoons  were  made 
to  advance  to  give  room  to  the  infantry,  and  the  latter, 
having  crossed  the  creek,  wrere  formed  to  receive  the 
enemy  in  front  in  one  line,  with  a  reserve  of  three 
companies — the  dragoons  flanked  by  mounted  riflemen 
forming  the  first  line.  During  all  this  time,  Indians 
were  frequently  seen  in  front  and  on  the  flanks.  The 
interpreters  endeavoured  in  vain  to  bring  them  to  a 
parley.  Though  sufficiently  near  to  hear  what  was 
said  to  them,  they  would  return  no  answer,  but  con- 
tinued by  gestures  to  menace  and  insult  those  "who 
addressed  them.  Being  now  arrived  within  a  mile 
and  a  half  of  the  town,  and  the  situation  being  favour- 
able for  an  encampment,  the  governor  determined  to 
remain  there  and  fortify  his  camp,  until  he  could  hear 
from  the  friendly  chiefs,  whom  he  had  despatched 
from  Fort  Harrison,  on  the  day  he  had  left  it,  for  the 
purpose  of  making  another  attempt  to  prevent  the 
recurrence  to  hostilities.  These,  chiefs  were  to  have 
met  him  on  the  way,  but  no  intelligence  was  yet 


BATTLE    OF    TIPPECANOE.  419 

received  from  them.  Whilst  he  was  engaged  in 
tracing  out  the  lines  of  the  encampment,  Major  Da- 
viess  and  several  other  field-officers  approached  him, 
and  urged  the  propriety  of  immediately  marching  upon 
the  town.  The  governor  answered  that  his  instruc- 
tions would  not  justify  his  attacking  the  Indians,  as 
long  as  there  was  a  probability  of  their  complying 
with  the  demands  of  the  government,  and  that  he  still 
hoped  to  hear  something  in  the  course  of  the  evening 
from  the  friendly  Indians,  whom  he  had  despatched 
from  Fort  Harrison. 

To  this  it  was  observed,  that  as  the  Indians  seen 
hovering  about  the  army  had  been  frequently  invited 
to  a  parley  by  the  interpreters,  who  had  proceeded 
some  distance  from  the  lines  for  the  purpose ;  and  as 
these  overtures  had  universally  been  answered  by 
menace  and  insult,  it  was  very  evident  that  it  was 
their  intention  to  fight ;  that  the  troops  were  in  high 
spirits  and  full  of  confidence;  and  that  advantage 
ought  to  be  taken  of  their  ardour  to  lead  them  imme- 

O 

diately  to  the  enemy.  To  this  the  governor  answered, 
that  he  was  fully  sensible  of  the  eagerness  of  the 
troops;  and  admitting  the  determined  hostility  of  the 
Indians,  and  that  their  insolence  was  full  evidence  of 
their  intention  to  fight,  yet  he  knew  them  too  well  to 
believe  that  they  would  ever  do  this  but  by  surprise, 
or  on  ground  which  was  entirely  favourable  to  their 
mode  of  fighting.  He  was  therefore  determined  not 
to  advance  with  the  troops,  until  he  knew  precisely 
the  situation  of  the  town,  and  the  ground  adjacent  to 
it,  particularly  that  which  intervened  between  it  and 
the  place  where  the  army  then  was — that  it  was  their 


420  INDIAN    WAR. 

duty  to  fight  when  they  came  in  contact  with  the 
enemy — it  was  his  to  take  care  that  they  should  not 
engage  in  a  situation  where  their  valour  would  be  use- 
less, and  where  a  corps  upon  which  he  placed  great 
reliance  would  be  unable  to  act — that  the  experience 
of  the  last  two  hours  ought  to  convince  every  officer, 
that  no  reliance  should  be  placed  upon  the  guides,  as 
to  the  topography  of  the  country — that,  relying  on 
their  information,  the  troops  had  been  led  into  a  situ- 
ation so  unfavourable,  that  but  for  the  celerity  with 
which  they  changed  their  position,  a  few  Indians  might 
have  destroyed  them :  he  was  therefore  determined 
not  to  advance  to  the  town,  until  he  had  previously 
reconnoitred,  either  in  person  or  by  some  one  on 
whose  judgment  he  could  rely.  Major  Daviess  im- 
mediately replied,  that  from  the  right  of  the  position 
of  the  dragoons,  which  was  still  in  front,  the  openings 
made  by  the  low  grounds  of  the  Wabash  could  be 
seen ;  that  with  his  adjutant,  D.  Floyd,  he  had  advanced 
to  the  bank,  which  descends  to  the  low  grounds,  and 
had  a  fair  view  of  the  cultivated  fields  and  the  houses 
of  the  town  ;  and  that  the  open  woods,  in  which  the 
troops  then  were,  continued  without  interruption  to 
the  town.  Upon  this  information,  the  governor  said 
he  would  advance,  provided  he  could  get  any  proper 
person  to  go  to  the  town  with  a  flag.  Captain  T.  Du- 
bois  of  Vincennes  having  offered  his  services,  he  was 
despatched  with  an  interpreter  to  the  prophet,  desiring 
to  know  whether  he  would  now  comply  with  the  terms 
that  had  been  so  often  proposed  to  him.  The  army 
was  moved  slowly  after,  in  order  of  battle.  In  a  few 
moments  a  messenger  came  from  Captain  Dubois, 


BATTLE    OF    TIPPECANOE.  421 

informing  the  governor,  that  the  Indians  \vere  near 
him  in  considerable  numbers,  but  that  they  would 
return  no  answer  to  the  interpreter,  although  they 
were  sufficiently  near  to  hear  what  was  said  to  them, 
and  that  upon  his  advancing,  they  constantly  endeav- 
oured to  cut  him  off  from  the  army.  Governor  Har- 
rison, deeming  this  last  effort  to  open  a  negotiation, 
sufficient  to  show  his  wish  for  an  accommodation, 
resolved  no  longer  to  hesitate  in  treating  the  Indians 
as  enemies.  He  therefore  recalled  Captain  Dubois, 
and  moved  on  with  a  determination  to  attack  them. 
He  had  not  proceeded  far,  however,  before  he  was  met 
by  three  Indians,  one  of  them  a  principal  counsellor 
to  the  prophet.  They  were  sent,  they  said,  to  know 
why  the  army  was  advancing  upon  them — that  the 
prophet  wished,  if  possible,  to  avoid  hostilities ;  that 
he  had  sent  a  pacific  message  by  the  Miami  and  Pota- 
watamie  chiefs,  who  had  come  to  him  on  the  part  of 
the  governor — and  that  those  chiefs  had  unfortunately 
gone  down  on  the  south  side  of  the  Wabash. 

A  suspension  of  hostilities  was  accordingly  agreed 
upon ;  and  a  meeting  was  to  take  place  the  next  day 
between  Harrison  and  the  chiefs,  to  agree  upon  the 
terms  of  peace.  The  governor  further  informed  them 
that  he  would  go  on  to  the  Wabash,  and  encamp 
there  for  the  night.  Upon  marching  a  short  distance 
further,  he  came  in  view  of  the  town,  which  was  seen 
at  some  distance  up  the  river,  upon  a  commanding 
eminence.  Major  Daviess  and  Adjutant  Floyd  had 
mistaken  some  scattering  houses  in  the  fields  below, 
for  the  town  itself.  The  ground  below  the  town 
being  unfavourable  for  an  encampment,  the  army 
36 


422  INDIAN    WAR. 

marched  on  in  the  direction  of  the  town,  with  a  view 
to  obtain  a  better  situation  beyond  it.  The  troops 
were  in  an  order  of  march,  calculated,  by  a  single 
conversion  of  companies,  to  form  the  order  of  battle 
which  it  had  last  assumed,  the  dragoons  being  in 
front.  This  corps,  however,  soon  became  entangled 
in  ground  covered  with  brush  and  tops  of  fallen  trees. 
A  halt  was  ordered,  and  Major  Daviess  directed  to 
change  position  with  Spencer's  rifle  corps,  which 
occupied  the  open  fields  adjacent  to  the  river. 

The  Indians  seeing  this  manoeuvre,  at  the  approach 
of  the  troops  towards  the  town,  supposed  that  they 
intended  to  attack  it,  and  immediately  prepared  for 
defence.  Some  of  them  sallied  out,  and  called  to  the 
advanced  corps  to  halt.  The  governor,  upon  this, 
rode  forward,  and  requesting  some  of  the  Indians  to 
come  to  him,  assured  them  that  nothing  was  further 
from  his  thoughts  than  to  attack  them — that  the 
ground  below  the  town  on  the  river  was  not  calculated 
for  a^  encampment,  and  that  it  was  his  intention  to 
search  for  a  better  one  above.  He  asked  if  there  was 
any  other  water  convenient  besides  that  which  the 
river  afforded ;  and  an  Indian  with  whom  he  was  well 
acquainted,  answered,  that  the  creek  which  had  been 
crossed  two  miles  back,  ran  through  the  prairie  to  the 
north  of  the  village.  A  halt  was  then  ordered,  and 
some  officers  sent  back  to  examine  the  creek,  as  well 
as  the  river  above  the  town.  In  half  an  hour 
Brigade  Major  Marston  Clarke,  and  Major  Waller 
Taylor  returned,  and  reported  that  they  had  found  on 
the  creek  everything  that  could  be  desirable  in  an 
encampment — an  elevated  spot,  nearly  surrounded  by 


BATTLE   OF    TIPPECANOE.  423 

an  open  prairie,  with  water  convenient,  and  a  suf- 
ficiency of  wood  for  fuel. 

An  idea  was  propagated  by  the  enemies  of  Go- 
vernor Harrison,  after  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe,  that 
the  Indians  had  forced  him  to  encamp  on  a  place  chosen 
by  them  as  suitable  for  the  attack  they  intended. 
The  place,  however,  was  chosen  by  Majors  Taylor  and 
Clarke,  after  examining  all  the  environs  of  the  town ; 
and  when  the  army  of  General  Hopkins  was  there  in 
the  following  year,  they  all  united  in  the  opinion,  that 
a  better  spot  to  resist  Indians  was  not  to  be  found 
in  the  whole  country. 

The  army  now  marched  to  the  place  selected,  and 
encamped,  late  in  the  evening,  on  a  dry  piece  of 
ground,  which  rose  about  ten  feet  above  the  level  of  a 
marshy  prairie  in  front  towards  the  town,  and  about 
twice  as  high  above  a  similar  prairie  in  the  rear;  through 
which,  near  the  bank,  ran  a  small  stream,  clothed  with 
willows  and  brushwood.  On  the  left  of  the  encamp- 
ment, this  bench  of  land  became  wider ;  on  the  right 
it  gradually  narrowed,  and  terminated  in  an  abrupt 
point,  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  the  right 
flank.  The  two  columns  of  infantry  occupied  the 
front  and  rear.  The  right  flank  being  about  eight 
yards  wide,  was  filled  with  Captain  Spencer's  com- 
pany of  eighty  men.  The  left  flank,  about  one  hun 
dred  and  fifty  yards  in  extent,  was  composed  of  three 
companies  of  mounted  riflemen,  under  General  Wells, 
commanding  as  major. 

The  front  line  was  composed  of  one  battalion  of 
]Jnited  States  infantry,  under  Major  Floyd,  and  a 
regiment  of  Indiana  militia,  under  Colonel  Bartholo- 


424  INDIAN    WAR. 

mew.  The  rear  line  consisted  of  a  battalion  of  Uni- 
ted States  infantry,  under  Captain  Baen,  commanding 
as  major,  and  four  companies  of  Indiana  volunteers, 
under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Decker.  The  right  flank 

O 

was  composed  of  Spencers  company  of  Indiana  vol- 
unteer riflemen ;  the  left  flank  of  Robb's  company  of 
Indiana  volunteers,  and  Guiger's,  a  mixed  company  of 
Kentucky  and  Indiana  volunteers — a  portion  of  Uni- 
ted States  troops  turning  the  left  front,  and  left  rear 
angles  respectively.  The  cavalry  under  Major  Da- 
viess  were  encamped  in  the  rear  of  the  front  line,  and 
left  flank,  and  held  in  reserve  as  a  disposable  force. 
The  encampment  was  not  more  than  three-fourths  of 
a  mile  from  the  Indian  town. 

The  order  given  to  the  army,  in  the  event  of  a 
night  attack,  was  for  each  corps  to  maintain  its 
ground  at  all  hazards  till  relieved.  The  dragoons 
were  directed  in  such  case  to  parade  dismounted,  with 
their  swords  on  and  their  pistols  in  their  belts,  and  to 
wait  for  orders.  The  guard  for  the  night  consisted 
of  two  captains'  commands  of  twenty-four  men  and 
four  non-commissioned  officers;  and  two  subalterns' 
guards  of  twenty  men  and  non-commissioned  officers 
— the  whole  under  the  command  of  a  field-officer  of 
the  day. 

On  the  night  of  the  6th  of  November,  the  troops 
went  to  rest,  as  usual,  with  their  clothes  and  accou- 
trements on,  and  their  arms  by  their  sides.  The 
officers  were  ordered  to  sleep  in  the  same  manner, 
and  it  was  the  governor's  invariable  practice  to  be 
ready  to  mount  his  horse  at  a  moment's  warning. 
On  the  morning  of  the  7th,  he  arose  at  a  quarter 


BATTLE    OF    TIPPECANOE. 


425 


Battle    of   Tippecanoe 


before  four  o  clock,  and  sat  bj  the  fire  conversing  with 
the  gentlemen  of  his  family,  who  were  reclining  on 
their  blankets  waiting  for  the  signal,  which  in  a  few 
minutes  would  have  been  given,  for  the  troops  to  turn 
out.  The  orderly  drum  had  already  been  roused  for 
the  .reveille.  The  moon  had  risen,  but  afforded  little 
light,  in  consequence  of  being  overshadowed  by 
clouds,  which  occasionally  discharged  a  drizzling 
rain.  At  this  moment  the  attack  commenced. 

The  treacherous  Indians  had  crept  up  so  near  the 

sentries  as  to  hear  them  challenge  when  relieved. 

They  intended  to  rush  upon  the  sentries  and  kill  them 

before  they  could  fire  ;  but  one  of  them  discovered  an 

36* 


426  INDIAN    WAR. 

Indian  creeping  towards  him  in  the  grass,  and  fired 
This  was  immediately  followed  by  the  Indian  yell,  and 
a  desperate  charge  upon  the  left  flank.  The  guard  in 
that  quarter  gave  way,  and  abandoned  their  officer 
without  making  any  resistance.  Captain  Barton's 
company  of  regulars,  and  Captain  Guiger's  company 
of  mounted  riflemen,  forming  the  left  angle  of  the 
rear  line,  received  the  first  onset.  The  fire  there  was 
excessive ;  but  the  troops  who  had  lain  on  their  arms 
were  immediately  prepared  to  receive,  and  had  gal- 
lantry to  resist  the  furious  savage  assailants.  The 
manner  of  the  attack  was  calculated  to  discourage 
and  terrify  the  men ;  yet  as  soon  as  they  could  be 
formed  and  posted,  they  maintained  their  ground  with 
desperate  valour,  though  but  few  of  them  had  ever 
before  been  in  battle.  The  fires  of  the  camp  were 
extinguished  immediately,  as  the  light  they  afforded 
was  more  serviceable  to  the  Indians  than  to  our  men 
— except  those  opposite  Barton's  and  Guiger's  com- 
panies, which  the  suddenness  of  the  attack  left  no 
time  to  put  out. 

Upon  the  first  alarm  the  governor  mounted  his 
horse,  and  proceeded  towards  the  point  of  attack ; 
and,  finding  the  line  much  weakened  there,  he  ordered 
two  companies  from  the  centre  of  the  rear  line  to 
march  up,  and  form  across  the  angle  in  the  rear  of 
Barton's  and  Guiger's  companies.  In  passing  through 
the  camp  towards  the  left  of  the  front  line,  he  met 
with  Major  Daviess*  who  informed  him  that  the 
Indians,  concealed  behind  some  trees  near  the  line, 
were  annoying  the  troops  very  severely  in  tlyit 
quarter,  and  requested  permission  to  dislodge  them. 


BATTLE   OF   TIPPECANOE.  427 

In  attempting  this  exploit  he  fell,  mortally  wounded, 
as  did  Colonel  Isaac  White,  of  Indiana,  who  acted 
as  a  volunteer  in  his  troop. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  attack  on  Spencer's  and 
Warwick's   companies,  on   the   right,   became  very 
severe.     Captain  Spencer  and  his  lieutenants  were  all 
killed,  and  Captain  Warwick  was  mortally  wounded. 
The  governor,  in  passing  towards  that  flank,  found 
Captain  Robb's  company  near  the  centre  of  the  camp. 
They  had  been  driven  from  their  post;  or,  rather, 
had  fallen  back  without  orders.     He  led  them  to  the 
aid   of   Captain    Spencer,   where   they   fought   very 
bravely,   having    seventeen   men    killed    during   the 
battle.     While  the  governor  was  leading  this  com- 
pany into  action,  Colonel  Owen,  his  aid,  was  killed  at 
his  side.     This  gallant  officer  was  mounted  on  a  very 
white  horse ;  and,  as  the  governor  had  ridden  a  gray 
on  the  day  before,  it  is  probable   that  Owen  was 
mistaken  for  him,  as  it  is  certain  that  he  was  killed 
by  one  of  the  only  Indians  who  broke  through  the 
lines,  and  who   are   supposed   to   have   resolved   to 
sacrifice  themselves  in  an  attempt  to  insure  victory 
by  killing  the   commander-in-chief.      The   governor 
happened  not  to  be  mounted  on  his  own  gray ;  his 
servant  had  accidentally  tied  that  animal  apart  from 
the  other  horses  belonging  to  the  general  staff;  and, 
in  the  confusion  occasioned  .by  the  attack,  not  being 
able  to  find  this  horse  as  quickly  as  was  desirable,  the 
governor  mounted  another. 

Captain  Prescott's  company  of  United  States 
infantry  had  filled  up  the  vacancy  caused  by  the 
retreat  of  Robb's  company.  Soon  after  Daviess  was 


428  INDIAN    WAR. 

wounded,  Captain  Snelling,  by  order  of  the  governor, 
charged  upon  the  same  Indians,  and  dislodged  them 
with  considerable  loss.  The  battle  was  now  main- 
tained on  all  sides  with  desperate  valour.  The 
Indians  advanced  and  retreated  by  a  rattling  noise 
made  with  deer-hoofs :  they  fought  with  enthusiasm, 
and  seemed  determined  on  victory  or  death. 

When  the  day  dawned,  Captain  Snelling's  com- 
pany, Captain  Posey's  under  Lieutenant  Allbright, 
Captain  Scott's,  and  Captain  Wilson's,  were  drawn 
from  the  rear,  and  formed  on  the  left  flank;  while 
Cook's  and  Baen's  companies  were  ordered  to  the 
right.  General  Wells  was  ordered  to  take  command 
of  the  corps  formed  on  the  left,  and,  with  the  aid  of 
some  dragoons,  who  were  now  mounted,  and  com- 
manded by  Lieutenant  Wallace,  to  charge  the  enemy 
in  that  direction,  which  he  did  successfully — driving 
them  into  a  swamp  through  which  the  cavalry  could 
not  pursue  them.  At  the  same  time,  Cook's  and 
Lieutenant  Larrabe's  companies,  with  the  aid  of  the 
riflemen  and  militia  on  the  right  flank,  charged  the 
Indians  and  put  them  to  flight  in  that  quarter,  which 
terminated  the  battle. 


Constitution    and    Guerriere, 


CAPTURE   OF  THE  GUERRIERE. 


HE  first  of  the  brilliant 
achievements  of  our  navy 
in  the  late  war,  was  the 
capture  of  the  frigate  Guer- 
riere by  the  frigate  Consti- 
tution, Captain  Hull,  which 
took  place  August  19, 1812 
The  most  thrilling  descrip- 
tion we  have  ever  seen  of  this  affair  occurs  in  a 
modest  little  volume,  published  by  the  Appletons  of 
New  York,  entitled,  "Gallop  among  American  Scenery, 
by  A.  E.  Sillirnan."  It  is  as  follows :  the  author  is 


430  SECOND    WAR    WITH    ENGLAND. 

conversing  with  an  old  quartermaster,  named   Ken- 
nedy— 

I  had  previously  had  the  hint  given  me,  that  a  little 
adroit  management  would  set  him  to  spinning  a  yarn 
which  would  suit  my  fancy.     So,  watching  a  good 
opportunity,  knowing  that  the  old  man  had  been  with 
Hull  in  his  fight  with  the  Guerriere,  I  successfully 
gave  a  kick  to  the  ball  by  remarking,  "  You  felt  rather 
uncomfortable,  Kennedy,  did  you  not,  as  you  were 
bearing  down  on  the  Guerriere,  taking  broadside  and 
broadside  from  her,  without  returning  a  shot  ?     You 
had  time  to  think  of  your  sins,  my  good  fellow,  as 
conscience  had  you  at  the  gangway  ?"     "  Well,  sir," 
replied  he,  deliberately  rolling  his  tobacco  from  one 
side  of  his  mouth  to  the  other,  squirting  the  juice 
through  his  front  teeth  with  true   nautical   grace — 
"  Well,  sir,  that  ere  was  the  first  frigate  action  as 
ever  I  was  engaged  in,  and  I  am  free  to  confess,  I 
overhauled  the  log  of  my  conscience  to  see  how  it 
stood,  so  it  mought  be  I  was  called  to  muster  in  the 
other  world  in  a  hurry ;  but  I  don't  think  any  of  his 
shipmates  will  say  that  Old  Bill  Kennedy  did  his  duty 
any  the  worse  that  day,  because  he  thought  of  his 
God,   as   he   has   many   a   time    since   at  quarters. 
There's  them  as  says  the  chaplain  is  paid  for  the  re- 
ligion of  the  ship,  and  it's  none  of  the  sailors'  business  j 
but  I  never  seen  no  harm  in  an  honest  seaman's  think- 
ing for  himself.     Howdsomever,  I  don't  know  the  man 
who  can  stand  by  his  gun  at  such  time,  tackle  cast 
loose,    decks    sanded,   matches    lighted,    arm-chests 
thrown  open,  yards  slung,  marines  in  the  gangways, 
powder-boys  passing  ammunition  buckets,  ship  as  still 


CONSTITUTION    AND    GUERRIERE.  431 

as  death,  officers  in  their  iron-bound  boarding-caps, 
cutlashes  hanging  by  lanyards  at  their  wrists,  standing 
like  statues  at  divisions,  enemy  may-be  bearing  down 
on  the  weather-quarter — I  say,  I  does  n't  know  the 
man  at  sich  time,  as  won't  take  a  fresh  bite  of  his 
quid,  and  give  a  hitch  to  the  waistbands  of  his  trow- 
sers,  as  he  takes  a  squint  at  the  enemy  through  the 
port  as  he  bears  down.  And  as  you  say,  at  that  par-* 
ticular  time  the  Guerriere  (as  is  French  for  soger) 
was  wearing  and  manoeuvring,  and  throwing  her  old 
iron  into  us,  broadside  and  broadside,  like  as  I  have 
seen  them  Italians  in  Naples  throw  sugar-plums  at 
each  other  in  Carnival  time.  Afore  she  was  through, 
though,  she  found  it  was  no  sugar-plum  work,  so  far  as 
Old  Ironsides  was  consarned.  You  obsarve,  when 
we  first  made  her  out,  we  seen  she  was  a  large  ship 
close  hauled  on  the  starboard  tack  ;  so  we  gave  chase, 
and  when  within  three  miles  of  her,  took  in  all  our 
light  sails,  hauled  courses  up,  beat  to  quarters,  and  got 
ready  for  action.  She  wore  and  manoeuvred  for  some 
time,  endeavouring  to  rake,  but  not  making  it  out, 
bore  up  under  her  jib,  and  topsails,  and  gallantly 
waited  for  us.  Well,  sir — as  we  walked  down  to  her, 
there  stands  the  old  man,  (Hull,)  his  swabs  on  his 
shoulders,  dressed  as  fine  in  his  yellow  nankin  vest 
and  breeches,  as  if  he  was  going  ashore  on  leave — 
there  he  stands,  one  leg  inside  the  hammock  nettings, 
taking  snuff  out  of  his  vest  pockets,  watching  her 
manoeuvres,  as  she  blazed  away  like  a  house  a-fire, 
just  as  cool  as  if  he  was  only  receiving  complimentary 
salutes.  She  burnt  her  brimstone,  and  was  noisy — 
but  never  a  gun  fires  we.  Old  Ironsides  poked  her 


432  SECOND    WAR    WITH    ENGLAND. 

nose  steady  right  down  for  her,  carrying  a  bank  of 
foam  under  her  bows  like  a  feather-bed  cast  loose. 
Well,  as  we  neared  her,  and  she  wears  first  a-star- 
board,  and  then  a-larboard,  giving  us  a  regular  broad- 
side at  every  tack,  her  shot  first  falls  short,  but  as  we 
shortened  the  distance,  some  of  them  begins  to  come 
aboard — first  among  the  rigging,  and  cuts  away  some 
of  the  stuff  aloft,  for  them  Englishmen  did  n't  larn  to 
fire  low  till  we  larnt  'em.  First  they  comes  in  aloft, 
but  by-and-bye,  in  comes  one — lower — crash — through 
the  bulwarks,  making  the  splinters  fly  like  carpenter's 
chips — then  another,  taking  a  gouge  out  of  the  main- 
mast; and  pretty  soon  again — '-chit'1 — I  recollects  the 
sound  of  that  ere  shot  well — '  chit' — another  dashed 
past  my  ear,  and  glancing  on  a  gun-carriage,  trips  up 
the  heels  of  three  as  good  men  as  ever  walked  the 
decks  of  that  ere  ship ;  and  all  this  while,  never  a  gun 
fires  we;  but  continues  steadily  eating  our  way  right 
down  on  to  his  quarter,  the  old  man  standing  in  the 
hammock  nettings,  watching  her  movements  as  if  she 
was  merely  playing  for  his  amusement.  Well,  as  we 
came  within  carronade  distance,  them  shot  was  coming 
on  board  rather  faster  than  mere  fun,  and  some  of  the 
young  sailors  begins  to  grumble,  and  by-and-by,  the 
old  men-of-wars-men  growled  too,  and  worked  rusty — 
cause  why — they  sees  the  enemy's  mischief,  and  no- 
thing done  by  us  to  aggravate  them  in  return.  Says 
Bill  Vinton,  the  vent-holder,  to  me,  '  I  say,  Kennedy,' 
says  he, '  what 's  the  use — if  this  here 's  the  way  they 
fights  frigates,  dam'me !  but  I  'd  rather  be  at  it  with 
the  Turks  agin,  on  their  own  decks,  as  we  was  at 
Tripoli.  It 's  like  a  Dutch  bargain — all  on  one  side. 


CONSTITUTION    AND    GUERRIERE.  433 

I  expects  the  next  thing,  they  '11  order  pipe  down,  and 
man  the  side-ropes  for  that  ere  Englishman  to  come 
aboard  and  call  the  muster-roll.'  l  Avast  a  bit,'  says 
I ;  '  never  you  fear  the  old  man.  No  English  press- 
gang  comes  on  board  this  ship — old  Blow-hard  knows 
what  he's  about.' 

"  Well,  by-and-bye,  Mr.  Morris,  our  first  lieutenant, 
who  all  the  while  had  been  walking  up  and  down 
the  quarter-deck,  his  trumpet  under  his  arm,  and  his 
eyes  glistening  like  a  school-boy's  just  let  out  to 
play ;  by-and-bye  he  began  to  look  sour,  'ticularly  when 
he  sees  his  favourite  coxswain  of  the  first  cutter,  car- 
ried by  a  shot  through  the  opposite  port.  So  he  first 
looks  hard  at  the  old  man,  and  then  walks  up  to  him, 
and  says  by  way  of  a  hint,  in  a  low  tone, 4  The  ship  is 
ready  for  action,  sir,  and  the  men  are  getting  im« 
patient ;' — the  old  man  never  turns,  but  keeps  his  eye 
steadily  on  the  enemy,  while  he  replies,  '  Are — you — 
all  ready,  Mr.  Morris  ?' — '  All  ready,  sir,' — says  the 
lieutenant — '  Don't  fire  a  gun  till  I  give  the  orders, 
Mr.  Morris,' — says  the  old  man.  Presently  up  comes 
a  midshipman  from  the  main-deck,  touches  his  hat — 
'  First  division  all  ready,  sir, — the  second  lieutenant 
reports  the  enemy's  shot  have  hurt  his  men,  and  he  can 
with  difficulty  restrain  them  from  returning  their  fire ;' 
— '  Tell  him  to  wait  for  orders,  Mr.  Morris,'  says  the 
old  man  again — never  turning  his  head.  Well — just, 
you  see,  as  the  young  gentleman  turned  to  go  below, 
and  another  shot  carries  off  Mr.  Bush,  lieutenant  of 
marines — just  as  we  begins  to  run  into  their  smoke, 
and  even  the  old  gun-boat  men,  as  had  been  with  De- 
catur  and  Somers,  begins  to  stare,  up  jumps  the  old 
37  Ee 


434  SECOND    WAR    WITH    ENGLAND. 

man  in  the  air,  slaps  his  hand  on  his  thigh  with  a  report 
like  a  pistol,  and  roars  out  in  a  voice  that  reached  the 
gunners  in  the  magazines — '  Now,  Mr.  Morris,  give  it 
to  them, — now  give  it  to  them — fore  and  aft — round 
and  grape — give  it  to  'em,  sir, — give  it  to  'em,'  and  the 
words  was  scarce  out  of  his  mouth  before  our  whole 
broadside  glanced  at  half  pistol-shot — the  old  ship 
trembling  from  her  keel  to  her  trucks,  like  an  aspen,  at 
the  roar  of  her  own  batteries — instantly  shooting  ahead 
and  doubling  across  his  bows,  we  gave  him  the  other 
with  three  cheers,  and  then  at  it  we  went — regular 
hammer  and  tongs.  You  would  a  thought  you  were 
in  a  thunder-storm  in  the  tropics,  from  the  continual 
roar  and  flash  of  the  batteries.  In  ten  minutes  his 
mizenmast  went  by  the  board.  *  Hurrah  !'  shouts  the 
old  man ;  'hurrah,  boys,  we've  made  a  brig  of  her. — 
Fire  low,  never  mind  their  top-hamper!  hurrah !  we'll 
make  a  sloop  of  her  before  we've  done.'  In  ten 
minutes  more,  over  went  her  mainmast,  carrying 
twenty  men  overboard  as  it  went ;  and  sure  enough, 
sir,  in  thirty  minutes,  that  ere  Englishman  was  a  sheer 
hulk,  smooth  as  a  canoe,  not  a  spar  standing  but  his 
bowsprit;  and  his  decks  so  completely  swept  by  our 
grape  and  canister,  that  there  was  barely  hands 
enough  left  to  haul  down  the  colours,  as  they  had 
bravely  nailed  to  the  stump  of  their  mainmast  '  I 
say,  Kennedy,'  says  the  vent-holder,  to  me,  lying 
across  the  gun  after  she  struck,  looking  out  at  the 
wrack  through  the  port,  and  his  nose  was  as  black  as  a 
nigger's  from  the  powder  flashing  under  it — '  I  say  I 
wonder  how  that  ere  Englishman  likes  the  smell  of 
the  old  man's  snuff.'  " 


TEAGICAL  AFFAIR  OF  AN  INDIAN  CHIEF. 


OR  obvious  reasons,  we  shall 
pass  over,  without  any  par- 
ticular notice,  the  leading 
operations  on  land  of  the 
war  of  1812  with  Great 
Britain.  There  is  nothing 
very  heroic  or  thrilling  in  the 
surrender  of  General  Hull 
at  Detroit,  or  in  the  abortive  attempts  to  invade  Canada, 
on  the  Niagara  frontier.  Our  notices  of  this  period 
will  be  chiefly  confined  to  acts  of  individual  bravery, 
or  the  operations  of  small  bodies  of  men.  The  first 


436  SECOND    WAR   WITH    ENGLAND. 

we  shall  notice  is  the  tragical  death  of  Logan,  an 
Indian  ally  of  the  United  States. 

Shortly  after  the  expedition  by  General  Tupper  to 
the  Miami  Rapids,  in  1812,  a  tragical  adventure 
occurred  in  the  left  wing  of  the  army,  which  merits 
to  be  minutely  recorded.  Captain  James  Logan,  a 
Shawnee  chief,  by  order  of  General  Harrison,  pro- 
ceeded with  a  small  party  of  his  tribe  to  reconnoitre 
in  the  direction  of  the  Rapids.  He  met  with  a 
superior  force  of  the  enemy  near  that  place,  by  which 
he  was  so  closely  pursued  that  his  men  were  obliged 
to  disperse  for  safety  in  their  retreat.  Logan,  with 
two  of  his  companions,  Captain  John  and  Bright- 
Horn,  arrived  safe  at  General  Winchester's  camp, 
where  he  faithfully  reported  the  incidents  of  the 
excursion.  But  there  were  certain  persons  in  the 
army  who  suspected  his  fidelity,  and  reproached  him 
with  being  friendly  to  the  enemy,  and  with  communi- 
cating intelligence  to  them.  The  noble  spirit  of  Logan 
could  not  endure  the  ungenerous  charge.  With  the 
sensibility  of  a  genuine  soldier,  he  felt  that  his  honour 
and  fidelity  should  not  only  be  pure  and  firm,  but 
unsuspected.  He  did  not,  however,  demand  a  court 
of  inquiry ;  following  the  natural  dictates  of  a  bold 
and  generous  spirit,  he  determined  to  prove  by 
unequivocal  deeds  of  valour  and  fidelity,  that  he  was 
calumniated  by  his  accusers. 

On  the  22d  of  November,  he  proceeded  the  second 
time,  accompanied  only  by  the  two  persons  named 
above,  firmly  resolved  either  to  bring  in  a  prisoner  or 
a  scalp,  or  to  perish  himself  in  the  attempt.  When 
he  had  gone  about  ten  miles  down  the  north  side  of 


DEATH    OF    LOGAN.  437 

the  Miami,  he  met  with  a  British  officer,  the  eldest 
son  of  Colonel  Elliot,  accompanied  by  five  Indians. 
As  the  party  was  too  strong  for  him,  and  he  had  no 
chance  to  escape,  four  of  them  being  on  horseback, 
he  determined  to  pass  them  under  the  disguise  of 
friendship  for  the  British.  He  advanced  with  con- 
fident boldness,  and  a  friendly  deportment,  to  the 
enemy ;  but,  unfortunately,  one  of  them  was  Winemac, 
a  celebrated  Potawatamie  chief,  to  whom  the  person 
and  character  of  Captain  Logan  were  perfectly  well 
known.  He  persisted,  however,  in  his  first  determi- 
nation, and  told  them  he  was  going  to  the  Rapids  to 
give  information  to  the  British.  After  conversing 
some  time,  he  proceeded  on  his  way ;  and  Winemac, 
with  all  his  companions,  turned  and  went  with  him. 
As  they  travelled  on  together,  Winemac  and  his 
party  closely  watched  the  others ;  and,  when  they 
had  proceeded  about  eight  miles,  he  proposed  to  the 
British  officer  to  seize  and  tie  them.  The  officer 
replied,  that  they  were  completely  in  his  power ;  that 
if  they  attempted  to  run,  they  could  be  shot;  or, 
failing  in  that,  the  horses  could  easily  run  them  down. 
This  consultation  was  overheard  by  Logan :  he  had 
previously  intended  to  go  on  peaceably  till  night,  and 
then  make  his  escape ;  but  he  now  formed  the  bold 
design  of  extricating  himself  by  a  combat  with  double 
his  number. 

Having  signified  his  resolution  to  his  men,  he 
commenced  the  attack  by  shooting  down  Winemac 
himself.  The  action  lasted  till  they  had  fired  three 
rounds  apiece,  during  which  time  Logan  and  his 
brave  companions  drove  the  enemy  some  distance, 
37* 


438      SECOND  WAR  WITH  ENGLAND. 

and  separated  them  from  their  horses.  By  the  first 
fire,  both  Winemac  and  Elliot  fell ;  by  the  second  a 
young  Ottawa  chief  lost  his  life ;  and  another  of  the 
enemy  was  mortally  wounded  about  the  conclusion 
of  the  combat,  at  which  time  Logan  himself,  as  he 
was  stooping  down,  received  a  ball  just  below  the 
breast-bone :  it  ranged  downwards,  and  lodged  under 
the  skin  on  his  back.  In  the  mean  time,  Bright- 

7  O 

Horn  was  also  wounded,  by  a  ball  which  passed 
through  his  thigh.  As  soon  as  Logan  was  shot,  he 
ordered  a  retreat ;  himself  and  Bright-Horn,  wounded 
as  they  were,  jumped  on  the  horses  of  the  enemy  and 
rode  to  Winchester's  camp,  a  distance  of  twenty 
miles,  in  five  hours.  Captain  John,  after  taking  the 
scalp  of  the  Ottawa  chief,  also  retreated  in  safety, 
and  arrived  at  the  camp  next  morning. 

Logan  had  now  rescued  his  character,  as  a  brave 
and  faithful  soldier,  from  the  obloquy  which  had  un- 
justly been  thrown  upon  him.  But  he  preserved  his 
honour  at  the  expense  of  the  next  best  gift  of  Heaven 
— his  life.  His  wound  proved  mortal.  He  lived  two 
days  in  agony,  which  he  bore  with  uncommon 
fortitude,  and  died  with  the  utmost  composure  and 
resignation.  "  More  firmness  and  consummate  bravery 
has  seldom  appeared  on  the  military  theatre,"  says 
Winchester,  in  his  letter  to  the  commanding  general. 
"  He  was  buried  with  all  the  honours  due  to  his  rank, 
and  with  sorrow  as  sincerely  and  generally  displayed 
as  I  ever  witnessed,"  says  Major  Hardin,  in  a  letter 
to  Governor  Shelby.  His  physiognomy  was  formed 
on  the  best  model,  and  exhibited  the  strongest  marks 
of  courage,  intelligence,  good  humour,  and  sincerity. 


DEATH    OF    LOGAN.  439 

It  was  said  by  the  Indians  that  the  British  had 
offered  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  his  scalp. 
He  had  been  very  serviceable  to  our  cause,  by  acting 
as  a  guide  and  a  spy.  He  had  gone  with  General 
Hull  to  Detroit,  and  with  the  first  Kentucky  troops, 
who  marched  to  the  relief  of  Fort  Wayne. 

.  Captain  Logan  had  been  taken  prisoner  by  General 
Logan,  of  Kentucky,  in  the  year  1786,  when  he  was 
a  youth.  The  general,  on  parting  with  him,  had 
given  him  his  name,  which  he  retained  to  the  end  of 
his  life.  Before  the  treaty  of  Greenville,  he  had  dis- 
tinguished himself  as  a  warrior,  though  still  very 
young.  His  mother  was  a  sister  to  the  celebrated 
Tecumseh,  and  the  Prophet.  He  stated,  that  in  the 
summer  preceding  his  death  he  had  talked  one  whole 
night  with  Tecumseh,  and  endeavoured  to  persuade 
him  to  remain  at  peace;  while  Tecumseh,  on  the 
contrary,  endeavoured  to  engage  him  in  the  war  on 
the  side  of  the  British.  His  wife,  when  she  was 
young,  had  also  been  taken  prisoner,  by  Colonel 
Hardin,  in  1789,  and  had  remained  in  his  family  till 
the  treaty  of  Greenville.  In  the  army  Logan  had 
formed  an  attachment  for  Major  Hardin,  the  son  of 
the  colonel,  and  son-in-law  of  General  Logan,  and  now 
requested  him  to  see  that  the  money  due  for  his 
services  was  faithfully  paid  to  his  family.  He  also 
requested  that  his  family  might  be  removed  imme- 
diately to  Kentucky,  and  his  children  educated  and 
brought  up  in  the  manner  of  the  white  people.  He 
observed  that  he  had  killed  a  great  chief;  that  the 
hostile  Indians  knew  where  his  family  lived,  and  that 


440 


SECOND    WAR    WITH   ENGLAND, 


when  he  was  gone  a  few  base  fellows  might  creep  up 
and  destroy  them. 

Major  Hardin  having  promised  to  do  everything 
in  his  power  to  have  the  wishes  of  his  friend  fulfilled, 
immediately  obtained  permission  from  the  general  to 
proceed  with  Logan's  little  corps  of  Indians  to  the 
village  of  Wapoghconata,  where  his  family  resided. 
When  they  reached  near  the  village,  the  scalp  of  the 
Ottawa  chief  was  tied  to  a  pole,  to  be  carried  in 
triumph  to  the  council-house ;  and  Captain  John, 
when  they  came  in  sight  of  the  town,  ordered  the 
guns  of  the  party  to  be  fired  in  quick  succession, 
on  account  of  the  death  of  Logan.  A  council  of  the 
chiefs  was  presently  held,  in  which,  after  consulting 
two  or  three  days,  they  decided  against  sending  the 
family  of  their  departed  hero  to  Kentucky.  They 
appeared,  however,  to  be  fully  sensible  of  the  loss 
they  had  sustained,  and  were  sincerely  grieved  for 
his  death, 


BATTLE  AND  MASSACRE  AT  THE  RIVER  RAISIN. 


ONG  as  our  country  has  been 
exposed  to  savage  warfare, 
no  event  in  its  history  is 
more  atrocious  than  the 
massacre  of  our  people  cap- 
tured by  the  British,  at  the 
river  Raisin.  On  the  even- 
ing of  the  21st  of  January, 
1812,  Colonel  Proctor  left  Maiden  with  six  hundred 
British  and  Canadians,  and  upwards  of  one  thousand 
Indians  under  the  chiefs  Splitlog  and  Roundhead,  and 
at  day-break  of  the  22d,  commenced  a  furious  attack 
upon  the  Americans.  The  left  wing  of  General 
Winchester's  troops,  amounting  to  six  hundred,  were 


442  SECOND    WAR    WITH   ENGLAND. 

stationed  within  the  pickets,  formed  in  a  half  circle. 
The  British  artillery  were  in  front,  the  Canadians  and 
Indians  on  each  flank.  The  right  wing,  consisting  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  were  in  an  exposed  situa- 
tion without  the  pickets.  Large  bodies  of  Indians 
were  stationed  in  the  rear  to  intercept  a  retreat. 

The  onset  was  first  made  on  the  right  wing,  which, 
after  sustaining  an  unequal  contest  for  twenty  minutes, 
broke  and  fled  across  the  river ;  here  they  fell  in  with 
a  body  of  Indians,  and  were  nearly  all  massacred. 
Two  companies  of  fifty  men  each,  which  went  out 
from  the  pickets  to  their  assistance,  shared  the  same 
fate.  General  Winchester  and  Colonel  Lewis,  in 
attempting  to  rally  them,  and  bring  them  to  a  more 
advantageous  position,  were  made  prisoners.  The  left 
wing  maintained  their  position,  and  fought  with  dis- 
tinguished valour,  against  treble  their  number,  until 
eleven  o'clock ;  when  General  Winchester,  having  no 
hopes  of  success  or  escape  for  this  band,  capitulated 
for  them ;  stipulating  for  their  safety  and  honourable 
treatment  as  prisoners  of  war,  and  particularly  that 
the  wounded  should  be  protected  from  the  fury  of  the 
savages.  Three  hundred  and  ninety-seven  were  slain 
in  battle,  or  afterwards  massacred  by  the  Indians; 
the  remainder  all  taken  prisoners.  The  British  ac- 
knowledge a  loss  of  only  twenty-four  killed,  and  one 
hundred  and  fifty-eight  wounded.  This,  however,  is 
altogether  short  of  the  real  number,  as  they  sustained 
a  constant  and  heavy  fire  from  the  troops  within  the 
pickets,  from  seven  to  eleven  o'clock  in  the  forenoon. 
Sixty-four  wounded  Americans  were  left  on  the  ground ; 
these,  by  the  aid  of  the  inhabitants,  had  mostly  been 


MASSACRE    AT    RIVER    RAISIN.  443 

removed  into  the  neighbouring  houses,  and  were  ieft  by 
the  British  with  the  promise  that  they  should  be  trans- 
ported in  sleighs  to  Maiden. 

On  the  morning  of  the  23d,  a  large  body  of  In- 
dians came  in,  tomahawked  and  scalped  these  sufferers, 
then  stripped  them,  plundered  and  set  fire  to  the 
houses,  and  consumed  the  dead  and  dying  in  one 
undistinguished  conflagration.  The  fate  of  Captain 
Hart  was  peculiarly  distressing,  though  similar  in 
many  of  its  circumstances  to  a  number  of  others. 
Early  in  the  action  he  had  received  a  wound  in  the 
knee,  which  prevented  his  walking.  After  the  capitu- 
lation, Captain  Elliott,  an  American  in  the  British 
service,  who  had  been  a  class-mate  and  a  particular 
friend  of  Captain  Hart,  at  Princeton  College,  came  to 
him,  voluntarily  offered  him  his  protection,  and  assured 
him  he  should  be  conveyed  to  Maiden,  and  taken  care 
of  in  Elliott's  house  until  he  recovered.  With  these 
fair  promises,  he  indulged  the  hope  of  speedy  relief 
and  recovery.  But  the  next  day  he  found  himself  in 
the  hands  of  the  savages.  They  tore  him  from  the 
bed  where  he  lay ;  a  brother  officer  rescued  him,  and 
conveyed  him  to  another  apartment.  Here  he  was 
again  assaulted.  At  length  he  bargained  with  one  of 
the  Indians  for  a  hundred  dollars  to  convey  him  to 
Maiden.  They  set  off  on  horseback,  and  having 
travelled  a  few  miles,  were  met  by  another  band  of 
savages,  who  claimed  Captain  Hart  as  their  prisoner. 
The  Indian  not  giving  him  up,  the  others  shot  and 
scalped  him.  Such  of  the  wounded  as  were  able  to 
travel,  the  Indians  carried  off  with  them  into  the 
wilderness,  and  afterwards  brought  them  into  Detroit, 


444  SECOND   WAR  WITH  ENGLAND. 

where  they  were  ransomed  and  furnished  with  clothing 
by  the  inhabitants.  Judge  Woodward  and  Mr. 
M'Intosh,  with  other  inhabitants  of  the  Michigan  ter- 
ritory, exerted  themselves  for  the  relief  of  the  sufferers, 
and  procured  the  release  of  all  who  survived  of  those 
who  had  been  carried  off  by  the  Indians.  General 
Harrison  despatched  Doctor  M'Keehan  with  two 
attendants  from  Sandusky,  to  assist  in  dressing  the 
wounded,  with  an  open  letter  to  General  Winchester, 
a  flag,  and  an  address  to  Colonel  Proctor,  or  any  other 
British  officer,  stating  his  character  and  business,  and 
furnished  with  money  to  procure  necessaries.  At  the 
rapids  of  the  Miami  they  entered  a  vacant  house  for  a 
few  hours'  sleep,  and  left  their  flag  hoisted  in  a  sleigh 
at  the  door.  They  were  soon  fired  upon  by  a  party  of 
Indians,  one  of  the  attendants  killed,  the  doctor  and 
the  other  made  prisoners,  and  conveyed  to  Maiden, 
where  they  were  treated  as  spies,  put  in  close  con- 
finement, and  sent  to  Quebec;  Proctor  inhumanly 
remarking  that  the  Indians  were  excellent  doctors. 
The  rites  of  sepulture  were  refused  to  the  slain.  On 
application  to  Colonel  Proctor,  for  leave  to  bury  the 
dead,  he  replied  the  Indians  would  not  permit  it. 
The  few  remaining  wretched  inhabitants  privately 
buried  Captain  Hart  and  some  others.  This  being 
discovered  by  the  Indians,  they  were  threatened  with 
instant  death  if  they  buried  any  more ;  and  the 
mangled  remains  of  the  slain  lay  exposed  in  the  fields, 
by  the  sides  of  the  road,  and  in  the  woods,  to  the 
amount  of  upwards  of  two  hundred,  a  prey  to  the  wild 
beasts.  Colonel  Proctor  seems  to  have  permitted  and 
even  encouraged  the  barbarities  of  the  Indians,  to 


MASSACRE    AT    RIVER   RAISIN.  445 

induce  them  to  continue  the  war,  and  strike  terror  into 
the  American  forces  that  should  be  opposed  to  them. 
The  effect,  however,  was  the  reverse  of  despondence. 
Though  Kentucky  was  in  mourning  for  the  loss  of 
many  of  her  brave  sons,  yet,  on  the  news  of  this  event, 
new  volunteers,  in  ample  numbers,  rallied  around  the 
standard  of  their  country,  and  were  eventually  suc- 
cessful in  avenging  their  losses. 

After  the  surrender  of  Detroit,  General  Brock, 
having  committed  the  civil  and  military  concerns  of  the 
Michigan  territory  to  Colonel  Proctor,  and  appointed 
him  commandant  at  Maiden,  returned  to  the  defence 
of  the  Niagara  frontier,  and  established  his  head- 
quarters at  Fort  George. 


38 


CAPTAIN  HOLMES'S  EXPEDITION. 


ARLY  in  the  spring  of  1813,  a 
small  force,  consisting  of  about 
one  hundred  and  eighty  ran- 
gers  and  mounted  infantry, 
under  Captain  Holmes,  was 
despatched  by  Lieutenant-Co- 
lonel Butler,  the  commander 
at  Detroit,  against  Delaware, 
a  British  post  on  the  river 
Thames.  This  detachment  had  set  out  with  artillery, 
but  the  state  of  the  country  presenting  invincible 
obstacles  in  its  transportation,  it  was  left  behind.  By 
this  means,  and  by  sending  back  the  sick  to  Detroit, 


HOLMES'S    EXPEDITION.  447 

Holmes's  little  force  was  diminished  to  about  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  men. 

On  the  3d  of  March,  intelligence  was  received  that 
a  body  of  the  enemy,  nearly  double  his  force,  was 
descending  the  Thames,  one-half  of  whom  were  re- 
gulars, and  the  remainder  militia  and  Indians.  Holmes 
immediately  retreated  a  few  miles,  and  took  an  ex- 
cellent position  on  the  western  bank  of  a  creek,  which 
ran  through  a  deep  and  wide  ravine.  Captain  Gill 
was  left,  with  a  few  rangers,  to  cover  the  rear,  and 
watch  the  motions  of  the  enemy ;  but  hardly  had  the 
main  body  encamped  before  they  were  joined  by  the 
rangers,  who  had  been  driven  in  after  exchanging  a 
few  shots  with  the  British  advanced  corps,  in  a  vain 
attempt  to  reconnoitre  their  forces. 

During  the  night  of  the  3d,  the  British  encamped 
upon  the  eastern  height,  and  next  morning  succeeded 
in  drawing  Captain  Holmes  from  his  position  by  a 
well  contrived  stratagem,  which,  had  it  been  skilfully 
followed  up,  could  hardly  have  failed  to  eventuate  in 
the  destruction  of  the  American  detachment.  For- 
tunately, however,  this  was  not  the  case.  At  sunrise 
the  enemy  exhibited  a  small  and  scattered  force  on 
the  opposite  heights,  who  retreated  after  ineffectually 
firing  at  the  American  camp ;  and  the  reconnoitering 
party  reported  that  the  retreat  was  conducted  with 
precipitation,  the  baggage  left  scattered  on  the  road, 
and  that,  judging  from  their  trail  and  fires,  they  could 
not  exceed  seventy  men.  Mortified  at  having  retro- 
graded from  this  diminutive  force,  Holmes  instantly 
commenced  the  pursuit,  and  resumed  the  idea  of 
attacking  the  enemy's  post.  He  had  not,  however, 


SECOND    WAR    WITH    ENGLAND. 

proceeded  beyond  five  miles,  when  his  advance  dis- 
covered the  enemy  in  considerable  force,  arranging 
themselves  for  battle. 

The  stratagem  of  the  enemy  being  now  apparent, 
Captain  Holmes  instantly  took  advantage  of  the  blun- 
der which  they  had  committed,  in  not  throwing  them- 
selves in  his  rear,  and  thus  placing  his  detachment 
between  a  fortified  position  and  a  superior  force ;  and 
happily,  he  soon  regained  his  former  position.  Here, 
placing  his  horses  and  baggage  in  the  centre,  he 
formed  his  troops  on  foot  in  a  hollow  square,  to  prevent 
the  necessity  of  evolution,  which  such  raw  troops  are 
incompetent  to  perform  in  action.  Holmes  thus  calmly 
awaited  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  in  defiance  of 
the  murmurs  of  his  men,  who  were  unanimously  in 
favour  of  a  retreat,  thinking  it  madness  to  engage 
with  so  superior  a  force. 

The  attack  was  commenced  simultaneously  on 
every  front,  the  militia  and  Indians  attacking  the 
north,  west,  and  south,  with  savage  yells  and  bugles 
sounding,  and  the  regulars  charging  from  the  ravine 
on  the  east.  The  latter  bravely  approached  to  within 
twenty  paces  of  the  American  line,  against  the  most 
destructive  fire.  But  the  front  section  being  shot  to 
pieces,  those  who  followed  much  thinned  and  wounded, 
and  many  of  the  officers  cut  down,  they  were  forced 
to  abandon  the  charge,  and  take  cover  in  the  woods 
in  diffused  order,  within  from  fifteen  to  thirty  paces  of 
their  antagonists.  The  charge  of  the  British  regulars 
thus  repulsed,  they  had  recourse  to  their  ammunition, 
and  the  firing  increased  on  both  sides  with  great 
vivacity.  The  American  regulars,  being  uncovered, 


HOLMES'S    EXPEDITION.  449 

were  ordered  to  kneel,  that  the  brow  of  the  heights 
might  assist  in  screening  them  from  the  view  of  the 
enemy.  But  the  enemy's  cover  also  proved  insuffi- 
cient, a  common-sized  tree  being  unable  to  protect  even 
one  man  from  the  extended  line  of  Americans,  much 
Jess  the  squads  that  often  stood  and  breathed  their 
last  together. 

On  the  other  three  sides  the  firing  was  also  sus- 
tained with  much  coolness,  and  with  considerable  loss 
to  the  foe.  The  troops  on  those  sides  being  protected 
by  logs  hastily  thrown  together,  and  the  enemy  not 
charging,  both  the  rifle  and  the  musket  were  aimed 
at  leisure,  with  that  deadly  certainty  which  dis- 
tinguishes the  American  backwoodsman.  Unable  to 
sustain  so  unequal  a  contest,  therefore,  and  favoured 
by  the  shades  of  twilight,  the  British  commenced  a 
general  retreat,  after  an  hour's  close  and  gallant 
conflict. 

Captain  Holmes  declined  a  pursuit,  as  the  enemy 
were  still  superior  both  in  numbers  and  discipline, 
and  as  the  night  would  have  insured  success  to  an 
ambuscade.  Besides,  as  the  creek  would  have  to  be 
passed,  and  the  heights  ascended,  the  attempt  to 
pursue  would  have  given  the  enemy  the  same  ad- 
vantage which  produced  their  defeat, — as  it  could  be 
passed  on  horseback  at  no  other  point,  and  the  troops 
being  fatigued  and  frost-bitten,  and  their  shoes  cut  to 
pieces  by  the  frozen  ground,  it  was  not  possible  to 
pursue  on  foot.  Captain  Holmes,  accordingly,  re- 
turned to  Detroit. 

The  American  loss,  in  killed  and  wounded,  on  this 
occasion,  amounted  only  to  a  non-commissioned 

38* 


450  SECOND    WAR    WITH    ENGLAND. 

officer  and  six  privates.  The  British  official  account 
states  their  loss  at  fourteen  killed,  fifty-one  wounded, 
one  missing,  and  one  officer  wounded  and  taken. 
Two  of  the  officers  were  killed,  and  the  same  number 
wounded.  The  statement  does  not  include  the  loss 
of  the  Indians.  The  whole  American  force  in  action 
consisted  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  rank  and  file,  of 
whom,  including  the  rangers,  seventy  were  militia. 
The  British  regulars  were  from  one  hundred  and  fifty 
to  one  hundred  and  eighty  strong,  and  the  militia  and 
Indians  fought  upon  three  sides  of  the  square. 


CAPTURE  OF  THE  CALEDONIA  AND  DETROIT. 


HIS  gallant  achievement  of 
Lieutenant  (afterwards  Com- 
modore) Elliot,  is  thus  de- 
scribed in  his  official  letter  to 
the  Secretary  of  the  Navy, 
dated  October  9th,  1812: 

"Sin:  I  have  the  honour 
to  inform  you,  that  on  the 
morning  of  the  8th  instant, 
two  British  vessels,  which  I 
was  informed  were  his  Bri- 


452  SECOND    WAR    WITH   ENGLAND. 

tannic  majesty's  brig  Detroit,  late  the  United  States 
brig  Adams,  and  the  brig  Hunter,  mounting  fourteen 
guns,  but  which  afterwards  proved  to  be  the  brig 
Caledonia,  both  said  to  be  well  armed  and  manned, 
came  down  the  lake,  and  anchored  under  protection 
of  Fort  Erie.  Having  been  on  the  lines  for  some  time, 
and,  in  a  measure,  inactively  employed,  I  determined 
to  make  an  attack,  and,  if  possible,  get  possession  of 
them.  A  strong  inducement  to  this  attempt  arose 
from  a  conviction  that,  with  two  vessels  added  to 
those  which  I  have  purchased,  and  am  fitting  out,  I 
should  be  able  to  meet  the  remainder  of  the  British 
force  on  the  upper  lakes,  and  save  an  incalculable 
expense  and  labour  to  the  government.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  their  arrival,  I  heard  that  our  seamen  were  but 
a  short  distance  from  this  place,  and  immediately 
despatched  an  express  to  the  officers,  directing  them 
to  use  all  possible  despatch  in  getting  the  men  to  this 
place,  as  I  had  important  service  to  perform.  On 
their  arrival,  which  was  about  twelve  o'clock,  I  dis- 
covered that  they  had  only  about  twenty  pistols,  and 
neither  cutlasses  nor  battle-axes ;  but  on  application 
'to  Generals  Smyth  and  Hall,,  of  the  regulars  and 
militia,  I  was  supplied  with  a  few  arms;  and  General 
'  Smyth  was  so  good,  on  my  request,  as  immediately 
•  to  detach  fifty  men  from  the  regulars,  armed  with 
muskets.  By  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  I  had  my 
men  selected  and  stationed  in  two  boats,  which  I  had 
previously  prepared  for  the  purpose.  With  those 
boats,  fifty  men  in  each,  and  under  circumstances  very 
disadvantageous,  my  men  having  had  scarcely  time 
to  refresh  themselves,  after  a  fatiguing  march  of  five 


CAPTURE    OF    THE    BRITISH  BRIGS.  453 

hundred  miles,  I  put  off  from  the  mouth  of  Buffalo 
Creek,  at  one  o'clock  the  following  morning,  and 
at  three  I  was  alongside  the  vessels.  In  about  ten 
minutes  I  had  the  prisoners  all  secured,  and  the  top- 
sails sheeted  home,  and  the  vessels  under  way. 

"Unfortunately  the  wind  was  not  sufficiently  strong 
to  get  me  up  against  a  rapid  current  into  the  lake, 
where  I  understood  another  armed  vessel  lay  at 
anchor ;  and  I  was  obliged  to  run  down  the  river  by 
the  forts,  under  a  heavy  fire  of  round,  grape,  and 
canister,  from  a  number  of  pieces  of  heavy  ordnance, 
and  several  pieces  of  flying  artillery,  and  was  com- 
pelled to  anchor  at  a  distance  of  about  four  hundred 
yards  from  two  of  their  batteries.  After  the  discharge 
of  the  first  gun,  which  was  from  the  flying  artillery, 
I  hailed  the  shore,  and  observed  to  the  officer  that  if 
another  gun  was  fired  I  would  bring  the  prisoners  on 
deck  and  expose  them  to  the  same  fate  we  should  all 
share ;  but,  notwithstanding,  they  disregarded  the 
caution,  and  continued  a  constant  and  destructive 
fire.  One  single  moment's  reflection  determined  me 
not  to  commit  an  act  that  would  subject  me  to  the 
imputation  of  barbarity. 

"  The  Caledonia  had  been  breached  in  as  safe  a 
position  as  the  circumstances  would  admit  of,  under 
one  of  our  batteries  at  Black  Rock.  I  now  brought 
all  the  guns  of  the  Detroit  on  the  side  next  the 
enemy,  stationed  the  men  at  them,  and  directed  a 
fire,  which  was  continued  as  long  as  our  ammunition 
lasted  and  circumstances  permitted.  During  the 
contest  I  endeavoured  to  get  the  Detroit  on  our  side, 
by  sending  a  boat  (there  being  no  wind)  on  shore, 


454  SECOND    WAR    WITH    ENGLAND. 

with  all  the  line  I  could  muster ;  but  the  current 
beino1  so  strong  that  the  boat  could  not  reach  the 

O  cj 

shore,  I  hailed  our  shore,  and  requested  that  warps 
should  be  made  on  the  land  and  sent  on  board ;  the 
attempt  to  all  which  again  proved  useless,  as  the  fire 
was  such  as  would  in  all  probability  sink  the  vessel 
in  a  short  time.  I  determined  to  drop  down  the  river 
out  of  reach  of  the  batteries,  and  make  a  stand 
against  the  flying  artillery.  I  accordingly  cut  the 
cable  and  made  sail,  with  very  light  airs ;  and,  at  that 
instant,  discovered  that  the  pilot  had  abandoned  me. 
I  dropped  astern  for  about  ten  minutes,  when  I  was 
brought  up  on  our  shore  on  Squaw  Island ;  got  the 
boarding-boat  ready,  had  all  the  prisoners  put  in  and 
sent  on  shore,  with  directions  for  the  officer  to  return 
for  me  and  what  property  we  could  get  from  the  brig. 
He  did  not  return,  owing  to  the  difficulty  of  the  boats 
getting  on  shore.  Discovering  a  skiff  under  the 
counter,  I  sent  the  four  remaining  prisoners  in  the 
boat,  and  with  my  officer  I  went  on  shore  to  bring 
the  boat  off.  I  asked  for  protection  of  the  brig  of 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Scott,  who  readily  gave  it.  At 
this  moment  I  discovered  a  boat  with  about  forty 
soldiers  from  the  British  side,  making  for  the  brig. 
They  got  on  board,  but  were  soon  compelled  to 
abandon  her,  with  the  loss  of  nearly  all  their  men. 
During  the  whole  of  this  morning,  both  sides  of  the 
river  kept  up  alternately  a  constant  fire  on  the  brig, 
and  so  much  injured  her  that  it  was  impossible  to 
have  floated  her.  Before  I  left  her  she  had  received 
twelve  shot  of  large  size  in  her  bends,  her  sails  in 
ribbons,  and  her  rigging  all  cut  to  pieces. 


CAPTURE    OF    THE    BRITISH    BRIGS.  455 

"  To  my  officers  and  men  I  feel  under  great  obliga- 
tions ;  to  Captain  Towson  and  Lieutenant  Roach,  of 
the  2d  regiment  of  artillery,  Ensign  Priestman,  of  the 
infantry,  to  Cornelius  Chapin,  Mr.  John  M'Coub, 
Messrs.  John  Tower,  Thomas  Davis,  Peter  Overtaks, 
James  Sloan,  resident  gentlemen  of  Buffalo,  for  their 
soldier  and  sailor-like  conduct ;  in  a  word,  every  man 
fought  with  his  heart  animated  only  by  the  interest 
and  honour  of  his  country.  The  prisoners  I  have 
turned  over  to  the  military.  The  Detroit  had  six  six- 
pound  long  guns,  a  commanding  lieutenant  of  marines, 
a  boatswain  and  gunner,  and  fifty-six  men,  about 
thirty  American  prisoners  on  board,  muskets,  pistols, 
and  battle-axes ;  in  boarding  her  I  lost  one  man,  one 
officer  wounded,  Mr.  John  C.  Cumrnings,  acting  mid- 
shipman, a  bayonet  through  the  leg  ;  his  conduct  was 
correct,  and  deserves  the  notice  of  the  department. 
The  Caledonia  mounted  two  small  guns,  blunderbusses, 
pistols,  muskets,  cutlasses,  boarding- pikes,  twelve  men, 
including  officers,  and  ten  prisoners  on  board ;  the  boat 
boarding  her  was  commanded  by  sailing-master  George 
Watts,  who  performed  his  duty  in  a  masterly  style ;  he 
had  but  one  man  killed,  and  four  badly  wounded,  I  am 
afraid  mortally.  I  enclose  you  a  list  of  the  officers  and 
men  engaged  in  the  enterprise,  and  also  a  view  of  the 
lake  and  river,  in  the  different  situations  of  attack.  The 
Caledonia  belonged  to  the  N.  W.  Company,  laden 
with  furs,  worth,  I  understand,  two  thousand  dollars. 
"  Signed—  JESSE  D.  ELLIOTT. 

"Hon.  PAUL  HAMILTON, 

"Secretary  of  the  Navy" 


Commodore   Jones. 


THE  WASP  AND  FROLIC. 


ATER  achievements  of  our  navy, 
on  a  large  scale,  h.ive  not  been 
^    sufficient  to  efface  the  recollec- 
tion of  the  brilliant  action  of 
the  United  States  sloop-of-war 
P^jp?^  Wasp,  under  the  command  of 
-  Captain  Jones,  and  the  British 
sloop-of-war  Frolic. 


THE    WASP    AND    FROLIC.  457 

In  1811,  Captain  Jones  was  transferred  by  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy  to  the  command  of  the  sloop- 
of-war  the  Wasp,  mounting  eighteen  twenty-four- 
pound  carronades,  and  was  despatched,  in  the  spring 
of  1812,  with  communications  from  our  government 
to  its  functionaries  at  the  courts  of  St.  Cloud  and  St. 
James.  Before  he  returned  from  this  voyage,  war 
had  been  declared  by  the  United  States  against  Great 
Britain.  Captain  Jones  refitted  his  ship  with  all 
possible  despatch,  and  repaired  to  sea  on  a  cruise,  in 
which  he  met  with  no  other  luck  than  the  capture  of 
an  inconsiderable  prize. 

He  sailed  from  the  port  of  Philadelphia  on  the  13th 
of  October,  1812,  with  a  gallant  set  of  officers,  and  a 
high-spirited  and  confident  crew.  On  the  16th  of  the 
same  month  the  Wasp  encountered  a  heavy  gale,  during 
which  she  lost  her  jibboom  and  two  valuable  seamen. 
On  the  following  night,  being  a  bright  moonlight,  a 
seaman  on  the  look-out  discovered  five  strange  sail, 
steering  eastward.  The  Wasp  hauled  to  the  wind- 
ward and  closely  watched  the  movements  of  these 
vessels  until  daylight  next  morning,  being  the  18th, 
when  it  was  found  that  they  were  six  large  merchant 
vessels  under  convoy  of  a  sloop-of-war.  The  former 
were  well  manned,  two  of  them  mounting  sixteen 
guns  each. 

Notwithstanding  the  apparent  disparity  of  force, 
Captain  Jones  determined  to  hazard  an  attack ;  and, 
as  the  weather  was  boisterous,  and  the  swell  of  the 
sea  unusually  high,  he  ordered  down  the  topgallant 
yards,  closely  reefed  the  topsails,  and  prepared  for 
action.  The  convoy  sailed  ahead  and  lay  to,  five  or 
39 


458  SECOND    WAR    WITH    ENGLAND. 

six  miles  distant,  while  the  sloop-of-war,  with  Spanish 
colours  flying,  remained  under  easy  sail,  the  Wasp 
coming  down  to  windward  on  her  larboard  side, 

o  7 

within  pistol-shot,  displaying  the  American  ensign  and 
pennant.  Upon  the  enemy's  being  hailed,  he  hauled 
down  the  Spanish  flag,  hoisted  the  British  ensign,  and 
opened  a  broadside  of  cannon  and  musketry.  The 
fire  was  promptly  returned  by  the  Wasp,  the  vessels 
gradually  neared  each  other,  and  each  maintained  the 
combat  with  great  animation,  the  English  vessel  firing 
with  most  rapidity,  but,  as  the  result  proved,  with  no 
great  precision.  In  a  few  minutes  after  the  com- 
mencement of  the  action,  the  maintopmast  of  the 
Wasp  was  shot  away,  and  falling  on  the  topsail  yard, 
across  the  larboard  fore  and  foretopsail  braces,  caused 
the  head  yards  to  be  unmanageable  during  the  con- 
tinuance of  the  action.  In  two  or  three  minutes 
more  the  gaft  and  mizen  topgallant  sail  were  shot 
away.  Each  vessel  continued  in  the  position  in  which 
the  action  commenced,  and  maintained  a  close  and 
spirited  fire.  Captain  Jones  directed  his  officers  not 
to  fire  except  when  the  vessel  rolled  downwards,  so 
that  the  shot  was  either  poured  on  the  enemy's  deck, 
or  below  it,  while  the  English  fired  as  soon  as  they 
had  loaded,  without  regard  to  the  position  of  their 
vessel,  and  thus  their  balls  were  either  thrown  away, 
or  passed  through  the  rigging.  The  Wasp  now  passed 
ahead  of  the  enemy,  raked  her,  and  resumed  her 
original  position.  It  was  now  obvious  that  the  Wasp 
had  greatly  the  advantage  in  the  combat,  and  Captain 
Jones  thought  the  contest  might  be  speedily  decided 
by  boarding,  but  hesitated  because  the  roughness  of 


THE    WASP    AND    FROLIC. 


459 


Wasp   and   Frolic. 


the  sea  might  endanger  the  safety  of  both  vessels  if 
brought  in  contact.  As,  however,  the  braces  and 
rigging  of  the  Wasp  were  so  injured  by  the  shot  of 
the  enemy  that  he  was  fearful  his  masts,  being  unsup- 
ported, would  go  by  the  board,  and  that  the  enemy 
might  escape ;  he  therefore  determined  at  all  hazards 
to  board,  and  thus  decide  the  contest.  With  this 
determination  he  wore  ship,  and  ran  athwart  the  enemy's 
bow,  3O  that  the  jibboom  came  in  between  the  main 
and  mizen  rigging  of  the  Wasp.  The  enemy  was  now 
in  a  position  so  inviting  for  a  raking  broadside,  that 
one  was  promptly  ordered.  So  closely  in  contact 
were  the  contending  vessels,  that  while  loading,  the 


460  SECOND    WAR    WITH   ENGLAND. 

rammers  of  the  Wasp  struck  against  the  sides  of 
the  opposing  vessel,  so  that  two  of  the  guns  of  the 
former  entered  through  the  bow  ports  of  the  latter,  and 
swept  the  whole  length  of  the  deck.  At  this  juncture 
a  sprightly  and  gallant  seaman,  named  Jack  Lang, 
who  had  once  been  impressed  on  board  a  British  man- 
of-war,  jumped  on  a  gun  with  his  cutlass,  and  was 
about  to  leap  on  board  the  enemy,  when  Captain 
Jones  ordered  him  back,  wishing  to  give  a  closing 
broadside  before  boarding.  His  impetuosity,  however, 
could  not  be  restrained ;  and  observing  the  ardour  of 
the  crew  generally,  Lieutenant  Biddle  and  Booth  gal- 
lantly led  them  on,  but  to  their  great  surprise,  when 
they  reached  the  enemy's  deck,  not  a  single  uninjured 
individual  was  found  on  deck  except  the  seaman  at 
the  wheel,  and  three  officers.  The  deck  was  covered 
with  the  dying  and  dead,  and  was  slippery  with  blood. 
When  Lieutenant  Biddle  reached  the  quarterdeck,  the 
commander  and  two  other  officers  threw  down  their 
swords,  and  made  an  inclination  of  their  bodies,  thus 
affording  evidence  that  they  had  surrendered. 

During  the  early  part  of  the  action,  the  ensign  of 
the  enemy  had  been  shot  down,  upon  which  a  British 
seaman  carried  it  aloft  again  and  nailed  it  to  the  mast. 
In  this  state  it  continued  floating,  they  not  being  able 
to  lower  it  until  one  of  the  United  States  officers 
ascended  the  rigging  and  tore  it  from  its  attachments. 
In  forty-three  minutes  from  the  commencement  of  the 
action,  full  possession  was  taken  of  the  enemy,  which 
proved  to  be  his  Britannic  Majesty's  sloop-of-war 
Frolic,  commanded  by  Captain  Whynyates. 

On  examining  the  berthdeck,  it  was  found  crowded 


THE    WASP   AND    FROLIC.  461 

with  the  dead  and  wounded,  there  being  but  an  incon- 
siderable proportion  of  the  crew  of  the  Frolic  which 
had  escaped  unhurt.  Soon  after  Lieutenant  Biddle 
took  possession  of  the  enemy,  her  masts  fell  by  the 
board,  so  that  she  lay  a  complete  wreck.  The  contest 
being  now  terminated,  Captain  Jones  ordered  Dr.  New, 
the  assistant  surgeon  of  the  Wasp,  to  visit  the  wounded 
enemy,  and  to  carry  with  him  everything  on  board, 
which  could  in  any  manner  contribute  to  their  comfort 

The  force  of  the  Frolic  consisted  of  sixteen  thirty- 
two-pound  carronades,  four  twelve-pounders  on  the 
maindeck,  and  two  twelve-pound  carronades.  She 
was,  therefore,  superior  to  the  Wasp  by  four  twelve- 
pounders.  The  officers  of  the  Frolic  stated  that  the 
number  of  men  on  the  ship's  books  was  one  hundred 
and  ten ;  but,  as  boats  were  seen  plying  between  the 
Frolic  and  some  of  the  convoy,  in  the  morning,  before 
the  action,  it  was  believed  that  she  received  many 
volunteers  in  addition  to  her  regular  crew.  This 
belief  was  strengthened  by  the  circumstance,  that  one 
of  the  vessels  in  the  convoy  came  alongside  the  Wasp 
next  morning  after  her  capture,  and  asked  assistance 
to  reef  his  sails,  as  he  had  but  two  men  and  a  boy  on 
board.  It  was  intimated  that  he  had  thus  diminished 
his  crew  by  allowing  volunteers  to  go  on  board  the 
Frolic. 

The  officers,  seamen,  marines,  and  boys  on  board 
the  Wasp,  numbered  one  hundred  and  thirty-five; 
which,  from  the  best  information  that  could  be  ob- 
tained, was  less  in  number  than  that  of  the  enemy. 
Both  vessels,  however,  had  more  men  than  was  es- 
sential to  their  efficiency ;  and  the  officers  of  the  Frolic 

39* 


462  SECOND    WAR    WITH    ENGLAND. 

candidly  acknowledged,  that  they  had  more  men  than 
they  knew  what  to  do  with.  It  appears,  therefore, 
that  while  there  was  an  equality  of  strength  in  the 
crews,  there  was  an  inequality  in  the  number  of  guns 
and  weight  of  metal — the  Frolic  having  four  twelve- 
pounders  more  than  the  Wasp. 

The  exact  number  of  killed  and  wounded  on  board 
the  Frolic,  could  not  be  ascertained  with  any  degree 
of  precision ;  but,  from  the  admissions  of  the  British 
officers,  it  was  supposed  that  the  number  killed  was 
about  thirty,  including  two  officers ;  and  of  those 
wounded,  between  forty  and  fifty.  The  captain  and 
every  other  officer  on  board,  were  more  or  less 
severely  wounded.  The  Wasp  sustained  a  loss  of 
only  five  men  killed  and  five  wounded. 


Lieutenant   Allen. 


GALLANT  CONDUCT  OF  LIEUTENANT  ALLEN  AT 
THE  CAPTURE  OF  THE  MACEDONIAN. 


HORTLY  after  the  declaration 
of  war  against  Great  Britain,  in 
1812,  the  frigate  United  States 
sailed  upon  a  cruise,  under  the 
command  of  Commodore  Deca- 
tur,  and  on  the  25th  of  October, 
1812,  in  latitude  29°  N.,  longi- 
tude 29°  3(X  W.,  fell  in  with  his 


464  SECOND    WAR   WITH    ENGLAND. 

Britannic  Majesty's  ship,  the  Macedonian,  commanded 
by  Captain  Garden.  She  was  a  frigate  of  the  largest 
class,  mounting  forty-nine  carriage  guns,  and  reputed 
one  of  the  swiftest  sailers  in  the  British  navy.  When 
this  frigate  first  hove  in  sight,  and  while  orders  were 
given  on  board  the  United  States  to  prepare  for 
action,  Lieutenant  Allen  mounted  aloft;  and,  after 
watching  her  closely  for  some  time,  at  length  dis- 
covered the  English  pennant.  He  descended  to  his 
comrades,  who  were  impatiently  awaiting  him  below, 
and  jocosely  pronounced  the  frigate  a  lawful  prize. 
The  enemy  having  the  advantage  of  the  wind,  fought 
at  his  own  distance,  and  the  contest  was  kept  up  for 
one  hour  and  fifty  minutes.  The  United  States 
poured  such  an  incessant  fire,  that  the  shouts  from 
the  crew  of  the  Macedonian  were  distinctly  heard, 
who,  from  that  cause,  apprehended  her  to  be  in  flames. 
Her  colours  were,  nevertheless,  hauled  down  shortly 
afterwards.  In  the  engagement,  she  lost  her  mizen- 
mast,  fore  and  maintopmast,  and  mainyard.  She 
was  likewise  much  damaged  in  her  hull.  Thirty-six 
were  killed  and  forty-eight  wounded.  On  board  the 
United  States  five  only  were  killed,  and  seven 
wounded.  The  American  frigate  received  so  little 
damage  in  this  engagement,  that  she  would  still  have 
continued  her  cruise,  had  it  not  been  necessary  for 
her  to  accompany  her  prize  into  port,  on  account  of 
the  crippled  state  of  the  British  frigate.  Any  com- 
ments on  this  splendid  action — an  action  so  glorious 
to  the  arms  of  our  countrymen — would  surely  now 
be  needless. 

In  the  frigate  United  States,  Lieutenant  Allen  was 


LIEUTENANT    ALLEN.  465 

most  assiduous  in  exercising  and  training  the  crew  to 
the  use  of  the  artillery.  The  accuracy  with  which 
the  guns  were  directed,  and  the  celerity  with  which 
they  could  be  fired,  evince  the  improvement  of  their 
discipline;  and,  indeed,  it  could  not  be  surpassed. 
After  Captain  Garden  had  gone  on  board  the  United 
States,  Lieutenant  Allen  requested  the  other  officers 
to  go  in  a  boat  which  was  ready  for  them.  The  first 
lieutenant  of  the  Macedonian  surlily  said,  "  You  do 
not  intend  to  send  me  away  without  my  baggage  ?" 

"  I  hope,"  replied  Allen,  "  you  do  not  suppose  you 
have  been  taken  by  privateersmen?" 

"  I  do  not  know" — replied  the  other  rudely — "  by 
whom  I  am  taken." 

Lieutenant  Allen  sternly  ordered  him  instantly  into 
the  boat,  and  he  immediately  went.  Lieutenant  Allen 
placed  a  guard  over  the  baggage  of  the  officers,  and, 
as  soon  as  the  other  duties  which  demanded  his  at- 
tention were  concluded,  he  sent  the  same  day  all  the 
baggage  on  board  the  United  States.  The  surgeon 
of  the  Macedonian  continued  on  board;  and  he  fre- 
quently, in  conversation,  bore  testimony  to  the  kind- 
ness of  Lieutenant  Allen,  toward  that  part  of  the  crew 
remaining  in  the  Macedonian,  particularly  toward  the 
wounded.  The  wardroom  officers  of  the  Macedonian 
expressed  to  the  wardroom  officers  of  the  United 
States,  a  deep  sense  of  the  civilities  which  they  had 
received ;  and  wished  to  give  jointly  another  expres- 
sion of  their  gratitude,  in  a  writing  which  might  be 
considered  as  a  letter  to  all  British  officers,  to  secure 
their  good-  treatment,  in  case  the  United  States  should 


466  SECOND    WAR   WITH    ENGLAND. 

be  captured.  This  certificate  of  protection  was  very 
properly  declined. 

To  Lieutenant  Allen  was  intrusted  the  honourable 
charge  of  bringing  the  prize  into  port,  and  she  safely 
arrived  in  the  harbour  of  New  York,  amidst  the 
enthusiastic  gratulations  of  our  countrymen.  His 
share  in  this  glorious  action  cannot  be  better  ex- 
pressed than  in  the  words  of  Commodore  Decatur 
himself:  "  It  would  be  unjust,"  continues  this  gallant 
officer,  "  it  would  be  unjust  in  me  to  discriminate, 
where  all  met  my  fullest  expectations.  Permit  me, 
however,  to  recommend  to  the  particular  notice  of 
the  Secretary,  my  first  lieutenant,  William  H.  Allen, 
who  has  served  with  me  upwards  of  five  years  j  and  to 
his  unremitted  exertions,  in  disciplining  the  crew,  is 
to  be  imputed  the  obvious  superiority  of  our  gunnery, 
exhibited  in  the  result  of  this  contest." 

The  corporation  and  citizens  of  New  York  honoured 
him  and  his  commander  with  a  splendid  and  superb 
festival ;  and  the  legislatures  of  Rhode  Island  and 
Virginia  presented  him  with  a  sword,  as  a  testimonial 
of  their  sense  of  his  gallant  services.  There  was 
everything  in  this  victory,  which  could  gratify  the 
pride  of  an  American.  The  individual  injury  done  to 
our  enemy  by  the  loss  of  a  frigate,  or  the  advantage 
to  ourselves,  by  acquiring  one,  is  nothing.  It  in- 
spires a  loftiness  of  feeling,  a  confidence,  that  is 
communicated  to  other  souls,  and  introduces  a  strain 
of  patriotic,  sensations  perfectly  novel.  It  breaks 
the  sea-spell  that  seemed  to  surround  the  navy  of 
England. 


Commodore    Bainbridge. 


CAPTURE  AND  DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  JAVA. 


ONG  before  the  commence- 
ment of  the  last  war  with 
Great  Britain,  Commodore 
Bainbridge  had  established 
the  highest  character  for 

™ 

bravery  and   ability   as   a 
naval  commander. 

The  United  States  de- 


468  SECOND    WAR    WITH    ENGLAND. 

clared  war  against  Great  Britain  on  the  18th  of  June, 
1812,  and  Commodore  Bainbridge  was  not  satisfied 
to  remain  on  shore,  comparatively  inactive,  when 
danger  and  glory  were  to  be  courted  on  the  sea.  He 
applied  for  the  command  of  a  frigate,  and  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  Constellation  thirty-eight,  with  orders 
to  prepare  her  for  sea  with  all  despatch.  His  arrange- 
ments were  not  yet  completed,  when  Captain  Hull 
arrived  in  Boston  with  the  Constitution,  after  achieving 
his  splendid  victory  over  the  Guerriere.  As  Hull 
was  obliged  to  resign  his  command,  on  account  of 
some  private  affairs  which  required  his  immediate 
attention,  Bainbridge  requested  to  be  transferred  to 
his  frigate.  This  request  was  complied  with,  and 
the  Essex  and  Hornet  being  also  placed  under  his 
orders  at  the  same  time,  he  hoisted  his  broad  pennant 
on  board  the  Constitution,  September  15,  1812. 

The  Essex,  then  in  the  Delaware,  was  ordered  to 
rendezvous  at  the  Cape  de  Verde  Isles;  but  she  was 
prevented  by  the  events  of  the  cruise  from  joining  the 
rest  of  the  squadron.  The  Constitution  and  Hornet 
sailed  on  the  26th  October,  and  arrived  off  St.  Sal- 
vador on  the  13th  December.  On  the  29th,  in  lati- 
tude 13°  6'  S,  and  about  ten  leagues  from  the 
coast  of  Brazil,  the  Constitution  fell  in  with  an 
enemy's  frigate,  the  Java,  bound  for  the  East  Indies, 
with  a  number  of  supernumerary  officers  and  seamen 
for  the  Bombay  station.  The  commodore,  finding 
the  frigate  fairly  within  his  reach,  prepared  with 
alacrity  for  action.  The  stranger  showed  English 
colours,  and  bore  down  wTith  the  intention  of  raking 
the  Constitution.  Bainbridge  avoided  this,  and  the 


CAPTURE    OF    THE    JAVA.  469 

enemy  having  hauled  down  colours,  and  left  flying  a 
jack  only,  the  commodore  gave  orders  to  fire  ahead 
of  the  enemy  to  make  him  show  full  colours.  This 
was  returned  with  a  full  broadside,  and  a  general 
action  commenced,  both  ships  striving  to  rake  and  to 
avoid  being  raked. 

Soon  after  the  commencement  of  the  action,  Bain- 
bridge  received  a  ball  in  the  hip ;  and  a  few  minutes 
later  a  shot  carried  away  the  wheel,  and  drove  a  small 
bolt  with  violence  into  his  thigh.     These  injuries  did 
not  induce  him  to  sit  down,  and  he  continued  on  deck, 
giving   orders,  until   eleven  o'clock  at  night.     The 
action  lasted  an  hour  and  fifty-five  minutes,  when  the 
enemy  struck  her  flag,  and  the  American  commodore 
sent   Lieutenant   Parker   to   take    possession.     The 
Java  was  commanded  by  Captain  Lambert,  a  distin- 
guished officer,  who  was  mortally  wounded,  and  died 
a  few  days  after  the  battle.     The  enemy's  loss  was 
not  less  than  sixty  killed  and  one  hundred  wounded. 
The   Constitution   lost   nine   killed,  and   twenty-five 
wounded.     The  two  vessels  presented  a  striking  con- 
trast in  appearance,  at  the  close  of  the  action ;  the 
Constitution  "  actually  coming  out  of  the  battle   as 
she  had  gone  into  it,  with  royal-yards  across,  and 
every  spar,  from  the   highest  to  the   lowest,  in  its 
place,"  though  some  of  them  were  considerably  in- 
jured ;  while  the  Java  lay  upon  the  water  an  unma- 
nageable wreck,  with  every  spar  shot  away,  and  but  a 
few  stumps  left  standing.     Bainbridge  displayed  great 
kindness  in  the  treatment  of  his  prisoners ;  and.  having 
destroyed  his   prize,  he  landed   his   captives  at  St. 
Salvador,  on  parole  of  honour  not  to  engage  in  hos- 
tilities against  the  United  States,  until  exchanged. 
40 


Some    from   Fort   Meigs. 


SIEGE  OF  FORT  MEIGS. 

PON  the  23d  of  January,  1813, 
the  day  after  the  unfortunate 
surrender  of  General  Win- 
chester to  the  British,  General 
Harrison  retreated  to  Carrying 
river,  about  midway  between 
Sandusky  and  the  Miami.  In 
February,  he  advanced  again 
to  the  Rapids,  where  he  erected  a  fort,  which,  in 
honour  of  the  governor  of  Ohio,  he  called  Fort 
Meigs.  It  covered  about  nine  acres  of  ground,  and 
was  nearly  in  an  octagonal  form.  It  had  strong 


SIEGE    OF   FORT    MEIGS.  471 

block-houses  at  the  corners,  with  cannon  mounted  so 
as  to  sweep  the  lines,  and  command  the  surrounding 
country.  The  intervals  were  filled  up  with  picketings 
in  the  usual  style  of  the  frontier  forts  of  the  west. 
In  addition  to  this  there  were  several  long  batteries 
mounted  with  cannon. 

The  term  of  service  of  many  of  Harrison's  volun- 
teers having  expired,  twelve  hundred  men  from  Ken- 
tucky, under  General  Clay,  were  sent  to  supply  their 
place.  Leaving  Cincinnati  early  in  April,  they  arrived 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  Fort  Meigs  on  the  4th  of 
May,  when  their  scouts  brought  intelligence  that  the 
woods  were  swarming  with  an  immense  force  of  Bri- 
tish and  Indians  under  General  Proctor,  who  was 
holding  Harrison  under  close  siege  in  the  fort.  The 
siege  had  already  lasted  four  days ;  but  Clay  had  the 
address  to  convey  intelligence  of  his  approach  to 
Harrison,  and  to  concert  with  him  a  plan  for  striking 
a  severe  blow  on  the  enemy. 

General  Clay  proceeded  down  the  river  in  his  boats, 
landed  eight  hundred  men  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river, 
advanced  rapidly,  and  made  a  dash  at  the  enemy's  bat- 
teries. Taken  wholly  by  surprise,  the  British  never- 
theless resisted  with  their  usual  valour,  but  the  impetu- 
osity of  the  Kentuckians  carried  everything  before 
them ;  the  cannoneers  were  bayoneted  at  their  guns — 
the  batteries  were  carried,  and  the  guns  spiked.  But  the 
ardour  of  the  men,  inspirited  by  this  brilliant  success, 
carried  them  too  far.  Instead  of  recrossing  the  river, 
as  they  should  have  done,  they  pursued  the  flying 
enemy  into  the  woods,  and  were  soon  surrounded  by 
the  whole  force  of  the  British  and  Indians.  A  con- 


472 


SECOND  WAR  WITH  ENGLAND. 


siderable  part  of  the  detachment  were  overpowered, 
and  became  prisoners.  Abandoned  by  the  barbarian 
Proctor  to  the  tomahawks  of  the  savages,  they  were 
rapidly  falling  victims  to  their  ferocity,  when  Tecum- 
seh,  the  great  Indian  chief,  coming  suddenly  upon  the 
ground,  with  a  trait  of  humanity  of  which  the  British 
commander  was  incapable,  instantly  exerted  his  autho- 
rity to  arrest  the  massacre,  and  meeting  with  a  Chip- 
pewa  chief  who  would  not  desist  for  persuasion  nor 
threats,  he  buried  his  tomahawk  in  his  head. 

Notwithstanding  the  unfortunate  issue  of  this  part 
of  General  Clay's  operations,  the  remainder  of  his 
reinforcement,  aided  by  a  well  conducted  sortie  on 
the  part  of  the  besieged,  succeeded  in  relieving  the 
fort ;  and  Proctor,  being  deserted  by  the  Indians,  who 
could  not  be  prevented  from  returning  to  their  villages, 
as  is  their  custom  after  any  battle  of  consequence, 
with  their  prisoners  and  plunder,  made  a  precipitate 
retreat  on  the  9th  of  May,  having  previously  secured 
his  ordnance  on  board  a  sloop. 


General  Pike. 


CAPTURE  OF  YORK  AND  DEATH  OF  GENERAL 

PIKE. 

EEPING  up  their  system  of  petty 
incursions  on  the  border  towns,  on 
the  morning  of  the  22d  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1813,  the   British  crossed 
over   in   considerable    force,   and 
succeeded    in   capturing  Ogdens- 
burg,  on  the  St.  Lawrence.     Cap- 
tain Forsythe,  the  American  commander  at 
that  place,  with  a  force  of  less  than  half  that 
of  the  British,  effected  his  retreat  to  Black 

40* 


474  SECOND    WAR    WITH    ENGLAND. 

Lake,  in  a  masterly  manner.  Considerable  alarm  for 
the  safety  of  Sackett's  Harbour  was  excited  by  this 
event,  and  immediate  measures  were  taken  for  re- 
inforcing it.  No  attempts  were  made,  however,  at 
further  conquest.  The  British  shortly  after  retired 
across  the  St.  Lawrence. 

The  ice  having  disappeared  in  Lake  Ontario  about 
the  middle  of  April,  the  lookout-boat  Growler  sailed 
from  Sackett's  Harbour  on  the  19th,  to  reconnoitre 
the  lake,  and  immediately  preparations  were  made  for 
an  embarkation  of  troops  for  the  invasion  of  Canada. 
The  troops,  to  the  number  of  seventeen  hundred, 
under  the  command  of  General  Dearborn,  were  em- 
barked by  the  23d ;  but  the  weather  proving  stormy, 
the  fleet  did  not  sail  until  the  25th. 

On  the  morning  of  the  27th  they  arrived  off  York, 
the  capital  of  Upper  Canada;  and,  the  fleet  having 
taken  a  position  to  the  south  and  westward  of  the 
principal  fort,  and  as  near  the  shore  as  possible,  the 
debarkation  of  the  troops  commenced  about  eight, 
and  was  completed  about  ten,  in  the  forenoon.  The 
place  fixed  on  for  landing  was  a  clear  field,  the 
site  of  the  old  French  fort  Toronto ;  but  the  wind 
blowing  heavy  from  the  eastward,  the  boats  fell  to 
leeward,  by  which  they  were  exposed  to  a  galling 
fire  from  the  enemy,  who  had  taken  a  position  in  a 
thick  wood  near  where  the  troops  were  obliged  to 
land.  This  circumstance  likewise  prevented  the  fleet 
from  covering  the  landing.  The  cool  intrepidity  of 
the  officers  and  men,  however,  overcame  every 
obstacle. 

The  riflemen  under  Forsythe  first  landed,  under  a 


DEATH    OF    GENERAL    PIKE.  475 

heavy  fire  from  the  enemy,  who  had  collected  all 
their  force  at  this  point,  consisting  of  seven  hundred 
regulars  and  militia,  and  one  hundred  Indians,  com- 
manded by  General  Sheaffe  in  person.  The  contest 
was  sharp  and  severe  for  about  half  an  hour,  when, 
about  seven  or  eight  hundred  of  the  Americans  having 

o 

landed,  commanded  by  General  Pike,  and  the  re- 
mainder of  the  troops  pushing  for  the  shore,  the 
enemy  retreated  to  their  works,  leaving  a  number  of 
killed  and  wounded  on  the  field.  As  soon  as  the 
troops  were  landed,  the  schooners  were  directed  to 
take  a  position  near  the  forts,  in  order  that  the  attack 
upon  them  by  the  army  and  navy  might  be  simul- 
taneous. 

Pike  having  formed  the  troops  on  the  ground  origi- 
nally intended  for  their  landing,  advanced  to  the  bat- 
teries, which  now  opened  their  fire,  which  was  returned 
from  the  .schooners  that  had  beat  up  to  a  position 
within  six  hundred  yards  of  the  principal  fort.  The 
troops  were  led  in  the  most  gallant  manner  by  General 
Pike,  who  carried  two  redoubts,  and  was  approaching 
the  principal  work,  when  the  enemy,  having  previously 
laid  a  train,  blew  up  his  magazine,  by  which  a  great 
number  of  the  troops  were  killed  and  wounded,  and, 
among  the  former,  the  ever-to-be-lamented  General 
Pike.  When  the  fall  of  Pike  was  made  known  to 
General  Dearborn,  he  landed  and  took  the  command 
of  the  troops. 

As  soon  as  the  magazine  was  blown  up,  the  British 
set  fire  to  their  naval  stores  and  a  ship  on  the  stocks ; 
and  then  the  regulars,  with  Sheaflfe  at  their  head,  made 
a  precipitate  retreat  from  the  town.  By  two  in  the 


476  SECOND  WAR  WITH    ENGLAND. 

afternoon,  the  American  flag  was  substituted  for  tne 
British,  and  by  four  the  troops  were  in  peaceable  pos- 
session of  York,  a  capitulation  having  been  agreed 
on  with  the  militia  commanding  officer,  by  which  the 
town,  stores,  and  nearly  three  hundred  militia  were 
surrendered. 

The  total  American  loss  on  this  occasion,  was  two 
hundred  and  sixty-four  killed  and  wounded. 

The  British  acknowledged  a  loss  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty-six,  killed,  wounded,  prisoners,  and  missing. 
This  loss  of  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  however, 
must  only  include  the  regulars,  as  three  hundred  militia 
were  surrendered  in  the  town. 

The  day  after  the  capture  of  York  was  employed 
in  burying  the  dead.  The  public  buildings,  barracks, 
dec.,  were  then  destroyed,  together  with  the  military 
stores  that  could  not  be  brought  away,  and  by  the  1st 
of  May,  the  town  was  entirely  evacuated,  the  militia 
prisoners  paroled,  and  the  troops  embarked ;  but, 
owing  to  contrary  winds,  the  fleet  did  not  sail  till  the 
8th.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  they  arrived 
at  Four  Mile  Creek,  below  Fort  Niagara,  where  the 
troops  and  public  property  were  landed;  and  on  the 
10th  Chauncey  again  sailed  for  Sacked 's  Harbour  for 
reinforcements.  The  day  previous  to  his  departure, 
two  schooners,  with  one  hundred  picked  men,  sailed 
for  the  head  of  the  lake  to  seize  a  quantity  of  public 
stores.  The  stores  were  found  to  be  guarded  by  about 
eighty  regulars,  who  were  repulsed,  the  stores  brought 
away,  the  public  buildings  burnt,  and  the  expedition 
returned  to  Fort  Niagara  without  loss. 


General   Brown. 


DEFENCE  OF  SACKETT'S  HARBOUR. 


Y  his  successful  defence  of 
Sackett's  Harbour,  General 
Brown  paved  the  way  for  his 
rapid  promotion,  and  gave 
promise  of  his  successful  ca- 
reer. On  the  night  of  the 
27th  of  May,  a  force  of  up- 
wards of  one  thousand  men, 
under  Sir  George  Prevost, 
were  embarked  at  Kingston,  on  board  the  British 
squadron,  and  in  open  boats,  and  immediately 


478  SECOND    WAR    WITH    ENGLAND. 

sailed  for  Sackett's  Harbour.  Next  morning  they 
were  observed  by  Lieutenant  Chauncey,  who  com- 
manded the  small  naval  force  remaining  there,  the 
principal  part  of  the  American  squadron  being  en- 
gaged at  Fort  George ;  and  he  immediately  sailed  into 
the  harbour,  firing  alarm-guns.  The  alarm  being 
immediately  communicated,  guns  were  likewise  fired 
from  the  alarm-posts,  in  order  to  bring  in  the  militia, 
and  instant  measures  taken  to  resist  the  attack. 

No  attempt,  however,  was  made  to  land  on  the 
28th,  the  attention  of  the  enemy  being  drawn  off  at 
the  moment  when  all  was  prepared  for  landing,  by  the 
appearance  of  a  fleet  of  American  barges,  passing 
from  Oswego  for  Sackett's  Harbour.  The  barges  of 
the  enemy  were  immediately  despatched  to  cut  them 
off,  and  succeeded  in  taking  twelve ;  the  troops,  how- 
ever, had  previously  succeeded  in  landing  and  gaining 
the  woods,  and  came  into  Sackett's  Harbour  the  same 
evening.  The  remaining  seven  boats  outsailed  the 

O  O 

enemy's  barges,  and  got  safe  into  port.  It  is  presumed 
that  the  landing  was  put  off  till  the  next  morning, 
under  the  expectation  of  cutting  off  more  barges,  as 
the  fleet  hauled  their  wind  and  stood  into  South  Bay, 
and  three  armed  barges  were  despatched,  apparently, 
in  order  to  waylay  them. 

During  the  night  a  considerable  militia  force  came 
in,  and  were  stationed  on  the  water  side,  near  Horse 
Island,  on  which  was  placed  a  small  body  of  Albany 
volunteers.  The  moment  it  was  light  the  enemy's 
squadron  was  perceived  in  line  between  Stony  Point 
and  Horse  Island,  and  shortly  after  troops  were  landed 


DEFENCE    OF    SACKETT'S    HARBOUR.          479 

on  the  latter  from  thirty-three  large  boats,  under  cover 
of  their  gim-boats. 

General  Brown,  who  commanded  the  post,  had 
directed  that  the  volunteers  should  retreat  across  the 
neck  which  joins  Horse  Island  to  the  main  land,  in 
case  of  the  enemy  landing  there ;  which  they  accord- 
ingly did,  and  joined  the  militia  under  his  command, 
amounting  to  between  four  and  five  hundred  men. 
The  enemy  having  landed  and  passed  to  the  main 
land,  were  marching  to  the  town,  when  they  received 
the  fire  of  the  volunteers  and  militia,  which  somewhat 
checked  their  progress.  Unfortunately,  however,  the 
militia,  totally  unacquainted  with  military  discipline, 
after  giving  the  first  fire,  rose  from  their  position  and 
fled  to  the  woods.  The  handful  of  volunteers,  thus 
losing  their  support,  were  likewise  forced  to  retreat; 
but  being  joined  by  a  few  regulars  from  the  town,  suc- 
ceeded in  rallying  a  portion  of  the  militia,  and,  by  the 
aid  of  the  fire  from  the  fort,  soon  forced  the  enemy  to 
withdraw  to  their  ships.  Unfortunately,  the  officer 
who  was  intrusted  with  the  care  of  the  navy  barracks 
and  store-house,  who  had  been  instructed  to  fire  them 
in  case  of  the  enemy's  proving  victorious,  mistaking 
the  flight  of  the  militia  for  a  complete  repulse,  set 
them  on  fire,  and  they  were  totally  consumed. 

The  American  loss  in  this  attack  was  twenty-one 
killed  and  eighty-four  wounded,  of  the  volunteers  and 
regulars,  and  twenty-six  missing.  Of  the  militia  there 
were  twenty-five  killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  Of 
the  enemy,  twenty-nine  were  found  dead  on  the  field, 
and  twenty-two  wounded,  and  thirty-five  were  made 
prisoners ;  in  addition,  many  were  killed  in  the  boats 


480 


SECOND    WAR    WITH    ENGLAND. 


while  effecting  their  landing.  A  number  were  like- 
wise carried  off  the  field  by  the  enemy  previous  to  the 
commencement  of  the  retreat.  In  the  British  official 
account,  their  loss  was  stated  as  follows :  viz.  Killed, 
forty-eight;  wounded,  one  hundred  and  ninety-five; 
wounded  and  missing,  sixteen. 


Defence  of  Fort  Stephenson. 


DEFENCE  OF  FORT  STEPHENSON. 


ONG  will  Colonel  Croghan's  able 
defence  of  Fort  Stephenson  be 
remembered.  It  was  one  of 
the  most  brilliant  achievements 
of  the  war.  The  opening  of 
the  campaign  of  1813,  as  we 
have  already  seen,  was  con- 
ducted with  great  activity  by  the  enemy  on  the 
Niagara  frontier.  Nor  were  the  British  inactive 

o 

upon   Lake   Erie.      After   their   retreat    from    Fort 
Meigs  in  the  beginning  of  May,  several  threatening 
4i  nh 


482  SECOND    WAR    WITH    ENGLAND. 

movements  were  made  from  the  lake  at  Fort  Meigs, 
Lower  Sandusky,  Cleveland,  and  Erie.  No  serious 
attempt  was  made,  however,  on  any  of  these  posts, 
until  the  18th  of  August, — when  a  combined  force 
of  the  enemy,  amounting  to  at  least  five  hundred 
regulars  and  seven  or  eight  hundred  Indians,  under 
the  immediate  command  of  General  Proctor,  made  its 
appearance  before  Lower  Sandusky.  As  soon  as  the 
general  had  made  such  a  disposition  of  his  troops  as 
would  cut  off  the  retreat  of  the  garrison,  he  sent 
Colonel  Elliot,  accompanied  by  Major  Chambers, 
with  a  flag,  to  demand  the  surrender  of  the  fort, — 
stating  that  he  was  anxious  to  spare  the  effusion  of 
blood,  which  he  should  probably  not  have  it  in  his 
power  to  do,  should  he  be  reduced  to  the  necessity  of 
taking  the  place  by  storm. 

The  commander  was  Major  Croghan,  a  youth  of 
twenty-one  years  of  age.  His  answer  was,  that  he 
was  determined  to  defend  the  place  to  the  last  ex- 
tremity, and  that  no  force,  however  large,  should 
induce  him  to  surrender  it.  So  soon  as  the  flag 
returned,  a  brisk  fire  opened  upon  the  fort,  from  the 
gun-boats  in  the  river,  and  from  a  five  and  a  half  inch 
howitzer  on  shore,  which  was  kept  up  with  little  in- 
termission throughout  the  night. 

At  an  early  hour  next  morning,  three  sixes,  which 
had  been  placed  during  the  night  within  two  hundred 
and  fifty  yards  of  the  pickets,  began  to  play,  but  with 
little  effect.  About  four  in  the  afternoon,  discovering 
that  the  fire  from  all  the  guns  was  concentrated  against 
the  northwestern  angle  of  the  fort,  Croghan  became 
confident  that  the  object  was  to  make  a  breach,  and 


DEFENCE  OF  FORT  STEPHENSON.     483 

attempt  to  storm  the  works  at  that  point.  He  there- 
fore ordered  out  as  many  men  as  could  be  employed 
for  the  purpose  of  strengthening  that  part,  which  was 
so  effectually  secured  by  means  of  bags  of  flour,  sand, 
&c.,  that  the  picketing  suffered  little  or  no  injury; 
notwithstanding  which,  about  five  hundred  of  the 
enemy,  having  formed  in  close  column,  advanced  to 
assault  the  works  at  the  expected  point,  at  the  same 
time  making  two  feints  on  other  parts  of  the  fort. 
The  column  which  advanced  against  the  northwestern 
angle,  consisting  of  about  three  hundred  and  fifty 
men,  was  so  completely  enveloped  in  smoke,  as  not 
to  be  discovered  until  it  had  approached  within  eighteen 
or  twenty  paces  of  the  lines ;  but  the  men  being  all 
at  their  posts  to  receive  it,  commenced  so  heavy  and 
galling  a  fire  as  to  throw  the  column  a  little  into  con- 
fusion ;  being  quickly  rallied,  however,  it  advanced  to 
the  outer  works,  and  began  to  leap  into  the  ditch. 
At  this  moment,  a  fire  of  grape  was  opened  from  a 
six-pounder,  which  had  been  previously  arranged  so  as 
to  rake  in  that  direction,  which,  together  with  the 
musketry,  threw  them  into  such  confusion,  that  they 
were  compelled  to  retire  precipitately  to  the  woods. 

During  the  assault,  which  lasted  about  half  an  hour, 
an  incessant  fire  was  kept  up  by  the  enemy's  artillery, 
which  consisted  of  five  sixes  and  a  howitzer,  but  with- 
out effect. 

Before  the  attack  was  ended,  the  soldiers  in  the 
garrison  supplied  the  wounded  enemy  in  the  ditch  with 
water,  by  throwing  over  full  canteens. 

The  whole  number  of  men  in  the  garrison  was  not 
more  than  one  hundred  and  sixty.  Their  loss  during 


484  SECOND    WAR   WITH    ENGLAND. 

the  siege  was  one  killed,  and  seven  slightly  wounded 
The  loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed,  wounded,  and  pri- 
soners, must  have  exceeded  one  hundred  and  fifty, 
one  lieutenant-colonel,  a  lieutenant,  and  fifty  rank  and 
file,  were  found  in  and  about  the  ditch,  dead  or 
wounded.  Those  of  the  remainder  who  were  not  able 
to  escape,  were  taken  off  during  the  night  by  the 
Indians. 

About  three  in  the  morning,  the  enemy  sailed  down 
the  river,  leaving  behind  them  a  boat  containing 
clothing  and  considerable  military  stores.  Seventy 
stand  of  arms  and  several  brace  of  pistols  were  after- 
wards collected  near  the  works. 

A  few  days  after  the  assault,  Proctor  despatched 
a  surgeon  with  a  flag  of  truce  to  assist  in  the  care 
of  the  wounded,  and  with  a  request  that  such  of  the 
prisoners  as  were  in  a  condition  to  be  removed  might 
be  permitted  to  return  to  Maiden,  on  his  parole  of 
honour  that  they  should  not  serve  until  exchanged. 

Harrison,  in  his  reply,  stated  that  on  his  arrival  at 
Fort  Sandusky,  on  the  morning  of  the  3d,  he  found 
Major  Croghan,  conformably  to  those  principles  which 
are  held  sacred  in  the  American  army,  had  caused  all 
the  care  to  be  taken  of  the  wounded  prisoners  that  his 
situation  would  permit ;  that  his  hospital  surgeon  was 
particularly  charged  to  attend  to  them,  and  he  was 
warranted  in  the  belief  that  everything  which  surgical 
skill  could  give  would  be  afforded.  "  They  have  been 
liberally  furnished,  too,"  he  added,  "  with  every  article 
necessary  in  their  situation  which  the  hospital  stores 
could  afford."  Having  referred  to  his  government  for 
orders  respecting  the  disposition  of  the  prisoners,  he 


DEFENCE  OF  FORT  STEPHENSON. 


485 


could  not  with  propriety  comply  with  the  request  for 
an  immediate  exchange.  But  he  assures  him,  that  as 
far  as  it  depends  upon  him,  the  course  of  treatment 
which  has  been  commenced  towards  them  whilst  in 
his  possession  would  be  continued. 

It  is  impossible  to  avoid  contrasting  the  conduct 
of  Proctor  and  Harrison  in  two  exactly  parallel  cases  j 
the  care  of  the  wounded  and  the  treatment  of  the 
surgeon  sent  for  their  relief  after  the  battles  of 
Frenchtown  and  Sandusky.  In  the  one  case,  the 
surgeon  was  treated  with  politeness,  and  only  sent 
back  when  his  aid  was  unnecessary,  and  the  wounded 
were  supplied  with  water  by  the  garrison,  even  whilst 
the  attack  is  carried  on.  The  opposite  conduct  need 
not  be  repeated  here.  It  has  made  too  deep  an  im 
pression  to  be  soon  effaced. 


41 


Commodore    Perry. 


BATTLE  OF  LAKE  ERIE. 


HEN  Commodore  Perry  was  ap- 
pointed to  command  the  United 
States  squadron  on  Lake  Erie, 
there  was  no  squadron  for  him  to 
command.  The  British  held  the 
entire  and  exclusive  possession  of  these  waters;  and 
to  this  officer  was  confided  the  important  duty  of 


BATTLE    OF    LAKE    ERIE.  487 

creating  a  fleet  in  the  face  of  a  proud  and  insolent 
foe.  The  commodore  had  not  only  to  contemplate 
the  day  as  extremely  dubious  and  distant  when  he 
should  meet  his  enemy  on  fair  and  honourable  terms 
on  the  bosom  of  the  lake,  but  likewise  to  guard 
against  surprise,  and  to  run  the  risk  of  having  his 
navy  destroyed  on  the  stocks.  He  had  likewise  to 
apprehend  everything  from  the  inexperience  of  his 
own  sailors;  and,  it  is  hoped  that  it  will  not  be 
deemed  invidious  to  assert,  from  the  inexperience  of 
his  officers  also.  The  commodore  himself  had  never 
seen  a  naval  engagement ;  it  is  true  that  he  had 
studied  the  theory  of  naval  warfare,  but  he  had  known 
nothing  of  active  operations.  He  had  never  been  in 
an  engagement  where  a  single  ship  was  opposed  to  a 
single  ship ;  much  less  could  he  be  presumed  capable 
of  calculating  all  the  hazards  and  casualties  where 
one  fleet  was  opposed  to  another.  This  was  untried 
ground,  and  on  which  the  commodore,  so  far  as 
regards  the  knowledge  resulting  from  experience,  was 
almost  as  much  a  novice  as  the  most  ignorant  of  his 
crew.  In  addition  to  this  formidable  mass  of  ob- 
structions, he  had  to  encounter  the  genius  of  Captain 
Barclay,  a  man  who,  to  an  enterprising  and  active 
mind,  had  united  the  lessons  of  sober  experience ;  he 
was  conversant  with  naval  science,  both  in  theory 
and  in  practice :  he  had  served  under  Nelson ;  and,  in 
the  battle  of  Trafalgar,  his  wound  was  an  evidence 
of  his  courage  and  intrepidity.  These  were  the  ap- 
parently unequal  terms  on  which  Commodore  Perry 
was  to  cope  with  his  gallant  competitor. 

These  difficulties,  which  in  ordinary  minds  would 


488  SECOND    WAR    WITH    ENGLAND. 

only  excite  motives  of  despair,  were,  in  Commodore 
Perry's,  subjects  only  of  active  and  of  persevering 
energy.  His  genius  seemed  to  expand  beneath  the 
pressure  of  the  foot  which  was  raised  for  its  extermi- 
nation. 

To  guard  against  the  approach  of  the  heavy 
vessels  of  the  enemy,  while  his  own  fleet  was  upon 
the  stocks,  he  selected  a  place  denominated  the  har- 
bour of  Erie,  which,  from  the  shoalness  of  the  water, 
was  incapable  of  being  approached  by  vessels  loaded 
with  heavy  ordnance.  This  bay,  by  projecting  into 
the  main  land,  rendered  the  pass  defensible,  both  by 
armed  boats  and  by  the  militia,  who,  on  the  requi- 
sitions of  the  commodore,  were  stationed  to  watch 
every  motion  of  the  enemy.  Here,  if  Captain  Bar- 
clay attempted  to  enter,  he  would  be  compelled  to 
relinquish  his  maritime  superiority — he  would  be 
compelled  to  forego  his  heavy  ships,  and  to  trust  his 
strength  in  boats,  which  might  be  opposed  by  an 
equal  force  on  the  water,  as  well  as  by  the  militia, 
who  were  stationed  to  prevent  his  advances.  His 
naval  pre-eminence  would  now  avail  him  nothing. 
Under  such  auspices  did  Commodore  Perry  com- 
mence the  hazardous  undertaking  of  building  his  fleet. 
Frequently  were  alarms  excited,  and  probably  for 
nefarious  purposes  promulgated,  that  Captain  Barclay 
intended  an  attack ;  and  as  often  was  the  vigilance 
and  promptitude  of  Commodore  Perry  found  equal  to 
the  emergency.  The  militia  were,  by  these  false 
alarms,  rendered  more  expert,  and  his  own  sailors 
were,  from  the  same  causes,  trained,  disciplined,  and 
inured  to  their  duty. 


BATTLE    OF    LAKE    ERIE.  489 

These  are  some,  and  but  faint  views  of  the  diffi- 
culties which  Commodore  Perry  had  to  surmount. 
Many  minds  are  found  capable  of  comprehending 
things  in  the  mass,  which  cannot,  at  the  same  time, 
bear  all  the  tedious  minutia3  of  detail.  Commodore 
Perry,  however,  was  as  attentive  to  the  one  as  to  the 
other.  While  he  was  revolving  in  his  mind,  and 
anxiously  awaiting  for  the  day  when  he  should  meet 
his  opponent  on  equal  terms,  he  superintended  the 
whole  of  the  preparatory  arrangements,  and  displayed 
the  same  persevering  zeal  as  he  did  in  the  grander 
scenes  in  which  he  was  afterwards  called  to  act. 

On  the  morning  of  the  10th  of  September,  1813, 
Commodore  Perry's  fleet — consisting  of  the  brig 
Lawrence,  of  twenty  guns ;  the  Niagara,  of  twenty  ; 
the  Caledonia,  of  three ;  the  schooner  Ariel,  of  four ; 
the  Scorpion,  of  two ;  the  Somers,  of  two  guns  and 
two  swivels ;  the  sloop  Trippe,  the  schooner  Tigress, 
and  the  Porcupine,  carrying  each  one  gun  only,  and 
making  in  the  aggregate  fifty-four  guns — were  lying 
in  Put-in  Bay.  The  British  fleet,  commanded  by 
Commodore  Barclay,  were  discovered,  consisting 
of  the  ship  Detroit,  carrying  nineteen  guns;  the 
Queen  Charlotte,  seventeen ;  the  schooner  Lady 
Prevost,  thirteen;  the  brig  Hunter,  ten;  the  sloop 
Little  Belt,  three ;  and  the  schooner  Chippeway,  one 
— making  a  difference  of  nine  guns  in  favour  of  the 
British.  Commodore  Perry  preserving  the  weather- 
gage  of  his  antagonist,  bore  up  to  windward,  and 
formed  his  squadron  in  line  of  battle.  The  enemy 
commenced  firing,  and  as  he  mounted  long  twenty- 
four,  eighteen,  and  twelve-pounders,  his  fire  became 


490  SECOND    WAR   WITH   ENGLAND. 

destructive.  The  commodore  observing  this  inequality 
of  fire,  and  his  own  ship  being  the  principal  sufferer, 
made  the  signal  for  close  action.  The  Lawrence 
was,  in  this  situation,  exposed  for  upwards  of  two 
hours  to  a  fire  so  destructive  and  tremendous,  that 
every  brace  and  bowline  was  shot  away,  every  gun 
rendered  useless,  and  the  greater  part  of  her  crew 
either  killed  or  wounded. 

Commodore  Perry  lay  in  the  Lawrence  between 
the  Queen  Charlotte  and  the  Detroit,  with  the  schoon- 
ers Ariel  and  Scorpion  on  his  weather-bow. 

While  the  battle  was  thus  raging,  the  gunboats,  on 
which  so  much  depended  in  such  a  crisis,  and  which, 
from  the  facility  of  their  management,  were  capable 
of  such  speedy  and  effectual  annoyance  of  the  enemy, 
did  but  little  or  no  execution. 

This  is  a  broad  outline  of  the  action,  and  of  the 
situation  of  the  respective  ships  at  this  critical 
moment.  Commodore  Perry  finding  that  no  more 
effective  hostility  could  be  done  in  the  Lawrence, 
hastily  left  her  in  the  charge  of  his  brave  and  gallant 
lieutenant,  Yarnall,  and  immediately  proceeded  on 
board  the  Niagara,  bearing  the  commodore's  flag,  on 
which  was  inscribed  the  dying  words  of  the  brave 
Lawrence,  " Don't  give  up  the  ship"  He  passed  the 
line  of  the  enemy,  exposed  to  the  full  hazard  of  their 
musketry,  still  standing  in  the  boat,  a  marked  and 
pointed  object,  until  he  was  forcibly  pulled  down  by 
his  own  men.  When  he  arrived  on  board  of  the 
Niagara,  the  crew  of  the  Lawrence  —  the  few  re- 
maining crew — gave  three  cheers,  on  account  of  the 
safety  of  their  beloved  commander.  Commodore 


BATTLE    OF    LAKE    ERIE.  493 

Perry  said,  addressing  Captain  Elliot,  "  Do  you  see 
those  infernal  gun-boats? — they  have  lost  us  the 
victory."  "  No,"  exclaims  his  confederate ;  "  do  you 
take  command  of  this  ship,  and  I  will  bring  up  the 
boats."  This  was  what  Commodore  Perry  so  deli- 
cately mentions  in  his  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Navy,  that  Captain  Elliot  anticipated  his  wishes,  in 
bringing  up  the  boats. 

A  fresh  breeze  springing  up  at  this  moment,  Com- 
modore Perry  availed  himself  of  this  favourable 
opportunity,  and  plunged  through  the  enemy's  line, 
giving  them  a  raking  fire  from  the  right  and  left. 
Captain  Elliot,  in  the  mean  time,  having  brought  up 
the  gun-boats,  did  vigorous  execution,  by  plying  them 
in  different  directions,  for  which  kind  of  naval  service 
they  are  so  admirably  adapted.  The  enemy,  over 
whom  victory  seemed  to  hover  until  this  moment, 
were  compelled  to  strike  their  flags ;  and  Captain 
Barclay,  who  was  fainting  below,  from  the  loss  of 
blood,  being  carried  on  deck,  agreed  that  nothing 
better  could  be  done. 

On  board  the  Lawrence  twenty-two  were  killed, 
and  sixty-one  wounded.  On  board  the  Niagara  two 
were  killed,  and  twenty-five  wounded.  On  board 
the  Caledonia  three  were  wounded  ;  and  on  board 
the  Ariel  two.  On  board  the  Trippe  and  the  Scor- 
pion two  only  were  wounded  in  each — making,  in  the 
whole,  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  in  killed  and 
wounded.  The  number  of  the  enemy's  killed  and 
wounded  is  not  known. 

During  this  sanguinary  battle,  the  Lawrence,  after 
Commodore  Perry  had  left  her,  was  compelled  to 
42 


494  SECOND    WAR    WITH    ENGLAND. 

strike  her  colours,  but  the  British  not  being  able  to 
take  possession,  the  flag  was  afterwards  rehoisted. 

It  was  thought  by  many  persons  in  the  fleet  at  the 
time  of  the  battle,  that  Captain  Elliot  might  have 
come  into  close  action  before  Commodore  Perry 
boarded  his  vessel ;  and  Perry  himself  expressed  this 
opinion,  and  called  on  the  proper  authorities  for  an 
official  inquiry  into  the  matter,  some  time  after. 
This  gave  rise  to  a  controversy  which  has  not  yet 
terminated,  during  which  much  nautical  language, 
much  special  pleading,  and  many  diagrams  have  been 
employed  to  show  that  if  there  was  any  fault  it  was 
Perry's,  and  not  Elliot's.  But  public  opinion  chose  to 
regard  Perry  as  the  hero  of  the  day,  at  the  time  of  the 
battle,  and  the  lapse  of  more  than  thirty  years  has 
not  served  to  depress  his  reputation  in  public  estima- 
tion, notwithstanding  the  violence  with  which  it  has 
been  assailed.  If  there  ever  was  a  victory  won  by 
the  extraordinary  exertions  of  the  commander-in- 
chief,  it  was  this  on  Lake  Erie.  There  were  many 
circumstances  against  him — such  as  the  superior 
force  of  the  enemy,  the  sickness  of  many  of  his  men, 
while  those  of  the  British  are  admitted  to  have  been 
all  in  health,  and  the  fact  that  he  received  no  support 
from  the  Niagara  until  his  own  ship  was  disabled,  and 
he  was  compelled  to  shift  his  flag.  It  is  upon  these 
broad  and  indisputable  facts,  that  his  countrymen 
have  assigned  him  a  place  in  the  very  highest  rank 
of  their  naval  commanders,  from  which  detraction 
can  never  remove  him.  His  memory  and  his  noble 
character  will  be  cherished  to  the  latest  time  as  a 
portion  of  the  nation's  inheritance  of  glory. 


BATTLE    OF    LAKE    ERIE. 

Previous  to  Perry's  victory,  there  were  many  and 
incessant  clamours  against  the  war,  and  many,  of  both 
the  friends  and  enemies  of  that  measure,  ventured  to 
prognosticate  that  the  American  officers  were* unable 
to  conduct  a  fleet  in  action.  Everything  of  this  kind 
was  now  silenced,  and  friends  and  enemies  of  the  war 
all  united  to  do  honour  to  those  to  whom  honour  was 
so  justly  due.  In  acknowledgment  of  his  services  in 
this  action,  Perry  was  promoted,  and  received  the 
thanks  of  Congress  and  many  state  legislatures ;  but 
he  rested  not  from  his  toils.  The  British  naval  force 
on  the  lake  was  now  subdued,  and  Perry  quitted  naval 
warfare  for  the  moment,  to  engage  and  assist  in  the 
enterprises  of  General  Harrison  on  land.  He  assisted 
at  the  taking  of  the  Moravian  towns,  on  the  5th  of 
October  following  his  own  victory. 


Battle   of   the   Thames. 


BATTLE  OF  THE  THAMES. 


REVIOUS  to  the  battle  of 
the  Thames,  Commodore 
Perry's  victory  had  opened 
the  way  for  the  passage  of 
the  American  army  into  Ca- 
nada, and  on  the  3d  of  Oc- 
tober, General  Harrison  left 
Sandwich  in  pursuit  of  Proc- 
tor, with  about  one  hundred 
and  forty  regulars,  Colonel  Johnson's  mounted  regi- 
ment, and  the  Kentucky  volunteers,  under  the  venerable 


BATTLE  OF  THE  THAMES.         497 

Governor  Shelby,  amounting,  in  the  whole,  to  near 
thirty-five  hundred  men.  Harrison  was  accompanied 
by  Commodore  Perry,  who  volunteered  as  his  aide-de- 
camp. 

The  army  reached  the  river  Thames,  which  falls 
into  Lake  St.  Clair,  twenty-five  miles  above  Detroit, 
the  same  evening,  and  next  morning  crossed  by  a 
bridge,  which  Proctor  had  neglected  to  destroy.  Har- 
rison put  himself  at  the  head  of  the  mounted  regiment 
and  pushed  forward,  in  order,  if  possible,  to  save  the 
bridge  over  three  branches  of  the  Thames,  which  ran 
between  him  and  the  British  army.  At  the  first  of 
these  they  captured  a  lieutenant  of  dragoons  and 
eleven  privates,  who  had  been  despatched  by  Proctor 
to  destroy  it ;  and  the  second  having  been  but  imper- 
fectly destroyed,  was  soon  repaired,  and  the  army 
passed  over  and  encamped  on  the  evening  of  the  3d 
of  October. 

The  baggage  had  thus  far  been  brought  over  in 
boats,  accompanied  by  gun-boats  to  protect  it,  and,  if 
necessary,  to  cover  the  passage  of  the  army  across 
the  rivers ;  but  the  river  above  being  narrow,  with 
high  woody  banks,  it  became  necessary  to  leave  the 
baggage  under  a  guard,  and  trust  to  the  bravery  of 
the  troops  to  effect  a  passage  across  the  remaining 
stream.  Next  morning,  about  eight  miles  above  their 
encampment,  the  army  arrived  at  the  third  unfordable 
branch  of  the  Thames,  where  they  found  that  the 
bridge  over  its  mouth,  as  well  as  one  a  mile  above, 
had  been  taken  up  by  the  Indians.  Here  several  hun- 
dred of  the  Indians  attempted  to  dispute  the  passage 
of  the  troops,  but  the  fire  from  two  six-pounders  soon 

42*  li 


498  SECOND   WAR   WITH   ENGLAND. 

drove  them  off;  and  in  about  two  hours  after,  the  bridge 
was  repaired,  and  the  troops  crossed  just  in  time  to 
extinguish  a  house  that  had  been  set  on  fire,  containing 
a  considerable  number  of  muskets,  which  were  fortu- 
nately saved.  At  the  first  farm  above  the  bridge  was 
found  one  of  the  enemy's  vessels  on  fire,  and  here 
intelligence  was  received  that  they  were  but  a  few 
miles  ahead. 

The  army  halted  for  the  night  about  four  miles 
above  the  bridge,  where  they  found  two  other  vessels, 
and  a  large  distillery,  filled  with  ordnance  and  other 
valuable  stores  to  an  immense  amount,  in  flames.  It 
was  impossible  to  extinguish  the  fire ;  but  two  mounted 
twenty-four-pounders  were  taken,  and  a  large  quantity 
of  ball  and  shells  of  various  sizes.  "Early  on  the 
morning  of  the  5th,  the  troops  were  again  put  in 
motion,  and  in  the  afternoon  the  officer  commanding 
the  advance  sent  to  inform  General  Harrison  that  his 
progress  was  stopped  by  the  enemy,  who  were  formed 
across  the  line  of  march. 

Between  the  two  armies  the  road  passed  through 
an  uncleared  beech  forest,  pretty  clear  of  underwood, 
near  the  banks  of  a  river,  parallel  to  which,  at  the 
distance  of  two  or  three  hundred  yards,  extended  a 
swamp  several  miles  in  length.  Across  this  strip  of 
land  the  British  were  drawn  up,  their  left  resting  on 
the  river,  supported  by  artillery;  their  right  on  the 
swamp,  covered  by  the  Indians. 

The  Americans  were  now  formed  in  order  of 
battle.  General  Trotter's  brigade  formed  the  front 
line,  his  right  upon  the  road,  and  his  left  upon  the 
swamp ;  while  General  Desha's  division,  consisting 


BATTLE  OF  THE  THAMES.         499 

of  two  brigades,  formed  en  potence*  on  his  left. 
General  King's  brigade  formed  a  second  line,  one 
hundred  and  fifty  yards  in  the  rear  of  Trotter's ;  and 
Chile's  brigade  formed  the  command  of  Major- 
General  Henry.  Each  brigade  averaged  nearly  five 
hundred  men.  The  crotchet  formed  by  Desha's 
division  was  occupied  by  Shelby,  the  governor  of 
Kentucky,  a  veteran  of  sixty-six  years  of  age,  who 
had  distinguished  himself  in  the  revolutionary  war, 
at  King's  Mountain.  These  troops,  who  now 
amounted  only  to  one  hundred  and  twenty  men,  oc- 
cupied in  columns  of  sections  of  four  the  small  space 
between  the  road  and  the  river,  for  the  purpose  of 
seizing  the  enemy's  artillery ;  and  ten  or  twelve 
friendly  Indians  were  directed  to  move  under  the 
bank.  Harrison  had  directed  Johnson's  mounted 
infantry  to  form  in  two  lines  opposite  to  the  enemy, 
and,  when  the  infantry  advanced,  to  take  ground  to 
the  left,  and,  forming  upon  that  flank,  to  endeavour 
to  turn  the  right  of  the  Indians.  It  was  perceived, 
however,  that  it  would  be  impracticable  for  them  to 
do  anything  on  horseback,  in  that  quarter,  owing  to 
the  thickness  of  the  woods  and  the  swampiness  of  the 
ground.  A  measure  altogether  novel  was  therefore 
determined  on,  which  was  crowned  with  the  most 
signal  success.  The  American  backwoodsmen  ride 
better  in  the  woods  than  any  other  people.  A 
musket  or  rifle  is  no  impediment  to  them,  being 

*  Troops  are  ranged  en  potence  by  breaking  a  straight  line,  and 
throwing  a  certain  proportion  of  it  either  backward  or  forward, 
according  to  circumstances,  for  the  purpose  of  securing  the  line. 

Duane's  Military  Dictionary. 


500  SECOND    WAR    WITH   ENGLAND. 

accustomed  to  carry  either  on  horseback  from  their 
earliest  youth.  A  charge  was  determined  on,  and 
accordingly  the  regiment  was  drawn  up  in  close 
column,  with  its  right  at  the  distance  of  fifty  yards 
from  the  road,  that  it  might  in  some  measure  be 
protected  from  the  artillery,  and  the  left  upon  the 
swamp. 

The  army  moved  on  in  this  order  but  a  short 
distance,  when  the  mounted  men  received  the  fire  of 
the  British  line,  and  were  instantly  ordered  to  charge. 
The  horses  in  the  front  of  the  column  recoiled  from 
the  fire ;  but  on  receiving  a  second  fire  the  column  got 
into  motion,  and  immediately,  at  full  speed,  broke 
through  the  enemy  with  irresistible  force.  In  one 
minute  the  contest  was  over  in  front.  The  British 
officers,  seeing  no  hope  of  reducing  their  disordered 
ranks  to  order,  the  mounted  infantry  wheeling  upon 
them  and  pouring  in  a  destructive  fire,  immediately 
surrendered.  Only  three  of  the  Americans  were 
wounded  in  this  charge. 

Upon  the  American  left,  however,  the  contest  with 
the  Indians  was  more  severe.  Colonel  Johnson,  who 
commanded  on  that  flank  of  his  regiment,  received  a 
most  galling  fire  from  them,  which  was  returned  with 
great  effect.  The  Indians  still  further  to  the  left  ad- 
vanced and  fell  in  with  the  front  line  of  infantry,  near 
its  junction  with  the  division  en  potence,  and  for  a  mo- 
ment made  an  impression  upon  it.  Governor  Shelby, 
however,  who,  as  already  stated,  was  stationed  near 
this  point,  brought  up  a  regiment  to  its  support.  The 
enemy  now  received  a  severe  fire  in  front,  and  a  part 


BATTLE  OF  THE  THAMES.         501 

of  the  mounted  men  having  gained  their  rear,  they 
immediately  retreated  with  precipitation. 

The  moment  had  now  arrived  which  was  to  prove 
whether  the  stigma  that  had  been  thrown  on  our 
Kentucky  brethren  was  founded  on  truth  or  falsehood ; 
when  it  was  to  be  seen  whether  they  were*  "  a  ferocious 
and  mortal  foe,  using  the  same  mode  of  warfare  with 
the  allies  of  Britain."  The  troops  who  had  now  com- 
pletely in  their  power  the  army  under  whose  eyes  had 
been  acted  the  tragedy  of  the  river  Raisin,  and  that 
which  was  acted  on  the  Miami  after  the  defeat  of  Colonel 
Dudley,  were  almost  exclusively  composed  of  Kentuck- 
ians ;  of  men  who  had  lost  their  brothers  or  friends  in 
those  shocking  scenes.  Nor  were  even  the  instruments 
of  vengeance  wanting.  They  were  accompanied  by  the 
savages  that  had  perpetrated  those  deeds,  who  had 
just  been  suing  for  mercy,  and  would  gladly  have 
shown  their  claims  to  it,  by  reacting  upon  the  Thames 
the  bloody  scenes  of  the  river  Raisin.  But  how  did 
they  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity  which  now 
presented  ?  Did  they  turn  the  tide  of  horrible  war- 
fare which  had  deluged  their  borders  in  the  blood  of 
wounded  prisoners,  and  of  helpless  age  and  infancy, 
upon  the  head  of  its  abettors  ?  No  :  to  their  honour 
and  to  the  honour  of  their  country  be  it  spoken,  they 
did  not.  The  moment  the  enemy  was  in  their  power  all 
injuries  were  magnanimously  forgotten,  and  the  pri- 
soners received  the  most  honourable  and  delicate 
treatment  from  the  hands  of  those  whom  they  had 

*  General  Brock's  proclamation,  for  which  see  page  33  of  Official 
Documents. 


502  SECOND  WAR  WITH    ENGLAND. 

stigmatized  as  savages,  the  employment  of  whom 
justified  the  use  of  the  Indians. 

Of  the  British  troops  twelve  were  killed,  and 
twenty-two  wounded  in  this  action,  and  six  hundred 
and  one  regulars  taken  prisoners.  General  Proctor 
escaped  by  the  fleetness  of  his  horses,  escorted  by 
forty  dragoons,  and  a  number  of  mounted  Indians. 
The  Indians  suffered  the  greatest  loss.  Thirty-three 
were  found  dead  on  the  ground,  besides  numbers  who 
were  killed  in  the  retreat.  On  the  day  of  the  action 
six  pieces  of  brass  artillery  were  taken,  and  two  twenty- 
four-pounders  the  day  before.  Several  others  were 
discovered  in  the  river,  which  were  expected  to  be 
saved.  Of  the  brass  pieces,  three  were  trophies  of  the 
revolutionary  war,  that  were  taken  at  Saratoga  and 
York,  and  surrendered  by  General  Hull.  The  number 
of  small  arms  captured  by  the  Americans,  or  de- 
stroyed by  the  enemy,  must  have  exceeded  five 
thousand ;  most  of  them  had  been  taken  by  the  British 
at  Detroit,  and  the  river  Raisin,  and  the  Miami.  The 
loss  of  the  Americans  was  seven  killed  and  twenty- 
two  wounded,  five  of  whom  afterwards  died. 

The  American  troops  certainly  deserved  great 
praise  for  their  conduct  in  this  action ;  for  although 
they  considerably  outnumbered  the  British,  it  must  be 
recollected  that  they  were  only  militia,  and  that  the 
British  had  chosen  a  position  that  effectually  secured 
their  flanks,  and  which  it  was  impossible  for  the 
Americans  to  turn,  or  to  present  a  line  more  extended 
than  that  of  the  enemy. 

The  death  of  Tecumseh,  which  took  place  in  this 
action,  has  been  attributed  to  Colonel  Johnson. 


Commodore    Chauncey. 


GALLANT  ACTION  OF  COMMODORE  CHAUNCEY 
UNDER  THE  GUNS  OF  KINGSTON  CITADEL. 


N  the  6th  of  Noveniber,  1813,  Commodore 
Chauncey  sailed  in  the  Oneida  with  his  six 
schooners,  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  and  on 
the  same  day  fell  in  with  the  Royal  George, 
which  he  chased  into  the  bay  of  Quanti,  where  he  lost 

sight  of  her  in  the  night.    Next  morning  he  again 
43 


506  SECOND   WAR    WITH    ENGLAND. 

discovered  her  in  Kingston  Channel,  and  immediately 
gave  chase,  and  followed  her  into  the  harbour  of 
Kingston,  where  he  engaged  her  and  the  batteries  for 
an  hour  and  three-quarters.  Chauncey  had  made  up 
his  mind  to  board  her,  notwithstanding  she  was  pro- 
tected by  the  batteries ;  but  the  wind  blowing  directly 
in,  the  pilots  refused  to  take  charge  of  the  vessels,  and 
it  was  therefore  deemed  imprudent  to  make  the  attack 
at  this  time.  He  accordingly  hauled  off,  and  beat  up, 
under  a  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy,  to  Four  Mile  Point, 
where  the  squadron  anchored.  During  the  night  it 
blew  heavy,  with  squalls  from  the  westward;  and 
there  being  every  appearance  of  a  gale  of  wind,  the 
pilot  became  alarmed,  and  Chauncey  thought  it  most 
prudent  to  get  into  a  place  of  more  safety,  and  there- 
fore reluctantly  deferred  renewing  the  attack  until  a 
more  favourable  opportunity. 

The  signal  was  made  to  weigh  at  seven  the  next 
morning,  and  the  squadron  beat  out  of  a  very  narrow 
channel,  under  a  heavy  press  of  sail,  to  the  open  lake. 
At  ten  they  fell  in  with  the  Governor  Simcoe,  which 
escaped  into  Kingston  harbour  by  running  over  a 
reef  of  rocks,  under  a  heavy  fire  from  three  of  the 
schooners,  during  which  all  her  people  ran  below.  It 
now  coming  on  to  blow  very  heavy,  Chauncey  bore  up 
for  Sackett's  Harbour,  and  on  his  way  thither  cap- 
tured two  schooners,  one  of  which  was  burnt  after 
taking  out  her  sails  and  rigging. 

The  Oneida,  in  this  affair,  had  one  man  killed  and 
three  slightly  wounded,  and  a  few  shot  through  her 
sails.  The  schooners  lost  no  men  by  the  enemy's 
fire,  and  received  but  little  injury  in  their  hulls  and 


CHAUNCEY'S   HEROIC    ACTION. 


507 


sails.  One  of  their  guns,  however,  burst  early  in  the 
action,  which  wounded  her  commander  badly,  and  a 
midshipman  and  three  men  slightly.  The  Royal 
George  received  considerable  injury  in  her  hull  and  in 
men,  as  the  gun-vessels,  with  their  long  thirty-two- 
pounders,  were  seen  to  strike  her  almost  every  shot ; 
and  it  was  observed  that  she  was  reinforced  with  men 
three  different  times  during  the  action. 


THE  SACKING  OF  HAMPTON, 


OTHING  can  exceed  the  bar- 
barous conduct  of  the  British 
naval  commanders  on  Ches- 
apeake Bay,  during  the  year 
1813.  Their  ravages  will 
long  be  remembered  by  the 
inhabitants  of  Virginia  and 
Maryland.  After  burning 
Frenchtown,  Havre  de  Grace,  Georgetown,  and 
Fredericktown,  they  attempted  to  reach  Norfolk,  but 
were  nobly  repulsed  at  Craney  Island.  Foiled  in  their 
meditated  attack  on  Norfolk,  by  this  repulse  at  the 
mouth  of  the  harbour,  the  British  again  turned  their 
attention  to  the  easier  duties  of  laying  waste  unpro- 
tected villages;  and  that  of  Hampton,  which  lay 
nearly  opposite,  naturally  presented  itself.  Here  they 
landed  a  body  of  two  thousand  men,  with  but  little 
opposition,  there  being  only  a  small  detachment 
of  militia  encamped  near  the  town,  who  were  soon 


SACKING   OF   HAMPTON. 


511 


forced  to  retreat  under  a  heavy  fire  of  artillery  and 
musketry,  and  congreve  rockets.  The  British  now 
took  possession  of  the  village ;  and  here  a  horrid 
scene  of  barbarity  ensued,  which  was  characterized 
by  plunder,  devastation,  murder,  and  rape.  The  Brit- 
ish troops  shortly  after  retreated  to  their  ships,  when  a 
correspondence  took  place  by  means  of  flags  between 
General  Taylor,  the  commandant  at  Norfolk,  and 
Sir  Sidney  Beckwith,  quartermaster-general  of  the 
British  forces,  on  the  subject  of  these  excesses.  Sir 
Sidney  attempted  to  justify  them  on  the  ground  of 
inhumanity  in  some  of  the  American  troops,  on  Craney 
Island,  whom  he  charged  with  having  waded  into  the 
river,  and  shot  at  their  unresisting  and  yielding  foe,  who 
clung  to  the  wreck  of  a  boat,  which  had  been  sunk  by 
the  fire  of  their  guns.  This  imputation  was  promptly 
repelled,  and  a  board  of  officers  was  immediately 
appointed  to  investigate  the  charge.  From  the  evi- 
dence adduced,  it  appeared  that  in  the  action  at  Craney 
Island,  two  of  the  enemy's  boats  in  front  of  the  line 
were  sunk  by  the  fire  of  the  batteries ;  the  soldiers 
and  sailors  who  were  in  those  boats  were  consequently 
afloat,  and  in  danger  of  drowning,  and  being  in  front 
of  the  boats  that  were  uninjured,  guns  were  neces- 
sarily fired  in  the  direction  of  the  men  in  the  water, 
but  with  no  intention,  whatever,  to  do  them  further 
harm ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  orders  were  given  to  pre- 
vent this,  by  ceasing  to  fire  grape,  and  only  to  fire 
round  shot;  it  was  also  substantiated  that  one  of  the 
enemy,  who  had  apparently  surrendered,  advanced 
towards  the  shore  about  one  hundred  yards,  where  he 
suddenly  turned  to  his  right,  and  endeavoured  to  make 


512 


SECOND    WAR   WITH    ENGLAND. 


his  escape  to  a  body  of  the  enemy  who  had  landed 
above  the  island,  and  who  were  then  in  view ;  then, 
and  not  till  then,  he  was  fired  upon  to  bring  him  back, 
which  had  the  desired  effect,  and  he  was  taken  unhurt 
to  the  island.  It  further  appeared,  that  the  troops  on 
the  island  exerted  themselves  in  acts  of  hospitality  to 
the  unresisting  and  yielding  foe. 

But,  even  if  this  charge  had  been  founded  on  fact, 
it  could  not  have  justified  the  measures  adopted  by 
the  British.  The  facts  should  surely  have  been  first 
clearly  ascertained  and  redress  demanded,  before  any 
retaliation  was  resorted  to,  especially  a  retaliation  so 
extravagant  in  its  measures,  applying  not  to  the  per- 
petrators of  the  alleged  offence,  nor  to  their  comrades, 
but  to  the  unresisting,  innocent,  and  helpless. 


Captain    Lawrence. 


CAPTURE  OF  THE  PEACOCK. 


OON  after  the  declaration  of  war, 
Captain  Lawrence  sailed  from 
Boston  in  company  with  Com- 
modore Bainbridge,  on  a  cruise 
to  the  East  Indies  ;  but  in 
running  down  the  coast  of  Brazil, 
in  the  month  of  December,  they 
found  the  Bonne  Citoyenne,  a 
British  ship-of-war,  laden  with  specie,  lying  in  the 

Kk 


514  SECOND    WAR    WITH    ENGLAND. 

harbour  of  St.  Salvador.  Though  this  ship  was 
superior  to  the  Hornet  in  force,  Lawrence  challenged 
the  commander  to  meet  him  in  action.  He  declined, 
and  Lawrence  blockaded  him  in  the  port  till  January, 
1813,  when  the  arrival  of  the  Montague,  of  seven  ty- 
'four  guns,  compelled  him  to  retreat. 

From  St.  Salvador  Captain  Lawrence  now  shaped 
his  course  towards  Pernambuco.  On  the  10th  of 
February,  he  captured  the  English  brig  Resolution, 
of  ten  guns,  laden  with  provisions  and  about  twenty- 
five  thousand  dollars  in  specie ;  but,  as  she  was  a  dull 
sailer,  and  he  could  not  spare  hands  to  man  her,  he 
took  out  the  money  and  the  crew,  and  burnt  her 
He  then  ran  down  the  coast  from  Maranham ;  and, 
after  cruising  near  that  place  and  Surinam  till  the  23d 
of  February,  he  stood  for  Demerara.  On  the  next 
morning  he  discovered  a  brig  to  leeward,  and  chased 
her  so  near  the  shore  that  he  was  obliged  to  haul  off 
for  want  of  a  pilot.  During  the  chase,  however,  he 
had  discovered  a  vessel  at  anchor  outside  of  the  bar 
of  Demerara  river,  with  English  colours  flying,  and 
now  began  beating  round  the  Corobano  bank  to  get 
at  her ;  when,  between  three  and  four  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  another  sail  was  seen  on  his  weather 
quarter,  edging  down  for  him.  As  she  approached, 
she  hoisted  English  colours,  and  proved  to  be  the 
British  brig  Peacock,  Captain  Peake.  The  Hornet 
was  immediately  cleared  for  action,  and  kept  close  to 
the  wind,  in  order  to  get  the  weather-gage  of  the 
approaching  vessel.  At  ten  minutes  past  five,  finding 
that  he  could  weather  the  enemy,  Captain  Lawrence 
hoisted  American  colours,  tacked,  and,  in  about  a 


CAPTURE    OF    THE    PEACOCK.  517 

quarter  of  an  hour,  passed  the  British  ship  within 
half  pistol-shot,  and  exchanged  broadsides.  The 
enemy  was  now  in  the  act  of  wearing,  when  Captain 
Lawrence  bore  up,  received  his  starboard  broadside, 
and  ran  him  close  on  board  on  the  starboard  quarter ; 
from  which  position  he  kept  up  so  close  and  bloody  a 
fire,  that  in  less  than  fifteen  minutes  from  the  com- 
mencement of  the  action,  the  British  struck  their 
colours,  and  hoisted  a  signal  of  distress.  Lieutenant 
Shubrick  instantly  went  on  board,  and  found  that  she 
was  cut  to  pieces,  her  captain  killed,  many  of  the  crew 
killed  and  wounded,  her  mainmast  gone  by  the  board, 
six  feet  water  in  the  hold,  and  sinking  very  fast.  The 
two  ships  were  immediately  brought  to  anchor,  and  the 
Hornet's  boats  despatched  to  bring  off  the  wounded; 
but,  although  her  guns  were  thrown  overboard,  the 
shot-holes  which  could  be  got  at  plugged,  and  every 
exertion  made  by  pumping  and  baling  to  keep  her 
afloat,  so  completely  had  she  been  shattered  that  she 
sunk  before  the  prisoners  could  be  removed,  carrying 
down  thirteen  of  her  crew,  as  well  as  three  men  be- 
longing to  the  Hornet.  Lieutenant  Conner  and  the 
other  officers  and  men  employed  in  removing  the 
prisoners,  narrowly  escaped  by  leaping  into  a  boat, 
as  the  Peacock  went  down ;  and  four  seamen  of  the 
Hornet  ran  up  into  the  foretop  at  the  same  time,  and 
were  taken  off  by  the  boats. 

The  Peacock  was  deemed  one  of  the  finest  ships 
of  her  class  in  the  British  navy.  In  size  she  was 
about  equal  to  the  Hornet ;  but  in  guns  and  men,  the 
Hornet  was  somewhat,  though  very  little,  her  supe- 
rior ;  and  by  no  means  so  much  so  as  to  give  her  any 
44 


518  SECOND   WAR   WITH   ENGLAND. 

decided  advantage.  The  loss  on  board  the  Peacock 
could  not  be  precisely  ascertained.  Captain  Peake 
was  twice  wounded,  the  second  time  mortally.  Four 
men  were  found  dead  on  board.  The  master  and 
thirty-two  others  were  wounded,  three  of  whom  after- 
wards died.  The  Hornet  had  only  one  man  killed, 
and  two  slightly  wounded.  Her  rigging  and  sails 
were  much  cut,  but  her  hull  received  very  little  injury. 
During  the  engagement,  the  vessel  which  the  Hornet 
had  been  endeavouring  to  reach  before  the  Peacock 
bore  down,  lay  at  anchor  within  six  miles,  and  as 
she  was  a  brig — the  Espiegle — carrying  fifteen  thirty- 
two-pound  carronades,  and  two  long  nines,  it  was 
supposed  that  she  would  attack  the  Hornet,  after  the 
latter  had  been  disabled  by  the  combat.  The  Hornet 
was  immediately  prepared  to  receive  her,  and,  by  nine 
o'clock  at  night,  her  boats  were  stowed,  a  new  set  of 
sails  bent,  and  everything  ready  for  action.  She, 
however,  declined  coming  out.  The  next  morning, 
Captain  Lawrence  found  that  he  had  two  hundred 
and  seventy  souls  on  board  the  Hornet,  and,  as  his 
crew  had  for  some  time  been  on  short  allowance,  re- 
solved to  steer  for  the  United  States.  The  officers 
of  the  Peacock  received  from  those  of  the  Hornet  the 
most  humane  and  honourable  treatment ;  so  penetrated 
with  gratitude  were  they  for  the  kindness  which  they 
had  experienced,  that  they  could  not  restrain  the  ex- 
pression of  their  feelings  till  they  reached  England, 
but,  on  their  arrival  in  the  United  States,  published 
a  letter  of  thanks  to  Captain  Lawrence  and  his 
officers,  in  which  they  declared  that  such  was  the 
liberality  displayed  to  them,  that  "they  ceased  to 


CAPTURE    OF    THE    PEACOCK.  519 

consider  themselves  prisoners."  Nor  was  the  rough 
generosity  of  the  Hornet's  crew  less  honourable.  As 
the  sailors  of  the  Peacock  had  lost  everything  except 
what  they  had  on  their  backs,  when  she  went  down, 
the  crew  of  the  Hornet  united  to  relieve  them ;  and 
made  every  English  sailor  a  present  of  two  shirts, 
and  a  blue  jacket  and  pair  of  trowsers ;  a  true-hearted 
liberality,  which  raises  them  in  our  estimation  higher 
than  even  their  victory. 


Weatherford. 


MASSACRE  AT  FORT  MIMMS. 

famous  Indian  chief  Weatherford  was 
born  in  the  Creek  nation.   His  father  was 
an  itinerant  pedlar,  sordid,  treacherous, 
and  revengeful;  his  mother  was  a  full- 
blooded  savage,  of  the  tribe  of  the  Seminoles.     He 

o     ' 

partook  of  all  the  bad  qualities  of  both  his  parents, 
and  engrafted  on  the  stock  he  inherited  from  others, 
many  that  were  peculiarly  his  own.  With  avarice, 
treachery,  and  a  thirst  for  blood,  he  combined  lust, 
gluttony,  and  a  devotion  to  every  species  of  criminal 
carousal.  Fortune,  in  her  freaks,  sometimes  gives  to 


MASSACRE    AT    FORT    MIMMS.  521 

the  most  profligate  an  elevation  of  mind  which  she 
denies  to  men  whose  propensities  are  the  most  virtuous. 
On  Weatherford  she  bestowed  genius,  eloquence,  and 
courage.  The  first  of  these  qualities  enabled  him  to 
conceive  great  designs,  the  last  to  execute  them ;  while 
eloquence,  bold,  impressive,  and  figurative,  furnished 
him  with  a  passport  to  the  favour  of  his  countrymen 
and  followers.  Silent  and  reserved,  unless  when  ex- 
cited by  some  great  occasion,  and  superior  to  the 
weakness  of  rendering  himself  cheap  by  the  frequency 
of  his  addresses,  he  delivered  his  opinions  but  seldom 
in  council;  but  when  he  did  so,  he  was  listened  to 
with  delight  and  approbation.  His  judgment  and 
eloquence  had  secured  the  respect  of  the  old,  his  vices 
made  him  the  idol  of  the  young  and  unprincipled.  In 
his  person  tall,  straight,  and  well-proportioned  \  his 
eye  black,  lively,  and  penetrating,  and  indicative  of 
courage  and  enterprise ;  his  nose  prominent,  thin,  and 
elegant  in  its  formation ;  while  all  the  features  of  his 
face,  harmoniously  arranged,  spoke  of  an  active  and 
disciplined  mind.  Passionately  devoted  to  wealth,  he 
had  appropriated  to  himself  a  fine  tract  of  land,  im- 
proved and  settled  it ;  and,  from  the  profits  of  his 
father's  pack,  had  decorated  and  embellished  it.  To 
it  he  retired  occasionally,  and,  relaxing  from  the  cares 
of  state,  he  indulged  in  pleasures  which  are  but  rarely 
found  to  afford  satisfaction  to  the  devotees  of  ambition 
and  fame.  Such  were  the  opposite  and  sometimes 
disgusting  traits  of  character  in  the  celebrated  Wea- 
therford, the  key  and  corner-stone  of  the  Creek  con- 
federacy ! 

It  is  said  that  this  chief  had  adopted  fully  the 
44* 


522  SECOND    WAR   WITH   ENGLAND. 

views  of  Tecumseh,  and  that,  if  he  had  entered  upon 
his  designs  without  delay,  he  would  have  been  amply 
able  to  overrun  the  whole  Mississippi  territory.  But 
this  fortunate  moment  was  lost,  and,  in  the  end,  his 
plans  came  to  ruin.  Not  long  before  the  wretched 
butchery  at  Fort  Mirnms,  General  Claiborne  visited 
that  post,  and  very  particularly  warned  its  holders 
against  a  surprise.  After  giving  orders  for  the  con- 
struction of  two  additional  block-houses,  he  concluded 
the  order  with  these  words :  "  To  respect  an  enemy, 
and  prepare  the  best  possible  way  to  meet  him,  is  the 
certain  means  to  insure  success."  It  was  expected 
that  Weatherford  would  soon  attack  some  of  the 
forts,  and  General  Claiborne  marched  to  Fort  Early, 
as  that  was  the  furthest  advanced  into  the  enemy's 
country.  On  his  way  he  wrote  to  Major  Beasley,  the 
commander  of  Mimms,  informing  him  of  the  danger 
of  an  attack ;  and,  strange  as  it  may  appear,  the  next 
day  after  the  letter  was  received  (August  30th,  1813), 
Weatherford,  at  the  head  of  about  fifteen  hundred 
warriors,  entered  the  fort  at  noonday,  when  a  shocking 
carnage  ensued.  The  gate  had  been  left  open  and 
unguarded;  but  before  many  of  the  warriors  had 
entered  they  were  met  by  Major  Beasley,  at  the  head 
of  his  men,  and  for  some  time  the  contest  was  bloody 
and  doubtful;  each  striving  for  the  mastery  of  the 
entrance.  Here,  man  to  man,  the  fight  continued  for 
a  quarter  of  an  hour  with  tomahawks,  knives,  swords, 
and  bayonets.  A  scene  now  presented  itself  almost 
without  a  parallel  in  the  annals  of  Indian  warfare. 
The  garrison  consisted  of  two  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  :  of  these  only  one  hundred  and  sixty  were  soldiers; 


MASSACRE    AT   FORT   MIMMS.  525 

the  rest  were  old  men,  women,  and  children,  wno  had 
here  taken  refuge.  It  is  worthy  of  very  emphatical 
remark,  that  every  officer  expired  fighting  at  the  gate 
A  lieutenant  having  been  badly  wounded,  was  carried 
by  two  women  to  a  block-house ;  but  when  he  was  a 
little  recovered,  he  insisted  on  being  carried  back  to 
the  fatal  scene,  which  was  done  by  the  same  heroines, 
who  placed  him  by  the  side  of  a  dead  champion,  where 
he  was  soon  despatched. 

The  defenders  of  the  garrison  being  now  nearly 
all  slain,  the  women  and  children  shut  themselves  up 
in  the  block-houses,  and  seizing  upon  what  weapons 
they  could  find,  began,  in  that  perilous  and  hopeless 
situation,  to  defend  themselves.  But  the  Indians  soon 
succeeded  in  setting  these  houses  on  fire ;  and  all  such 
as  refused  to  meet  death  without,  perished  in  the 
flames  within.  Seventeen  only  escaped  of  all  the 
garrison,  and  many  of  those  were  desperately  wounded. 
It  was  judged  that,  during  the  contest  at  the  gate, 
near  four  hundred  of  Weatherford's  warriors  were 
wounded  or  slain. 


General  Jackson. 


SURRENDER  OF  WEATHERFORD. 


FTER  the  battle  at  Horse- 
shoe Bend,  in  which  Gene- 
ral Jackson  gave  the  death- 
blow to   the  power   of  the 
formidable     Creek    nation, 
the  Indians,  seeing   all  re- 
T7  sistance   was    at    an    end, 
came     forward     in     grea. 
numbers  and  made  their  submission.     Weatherford 


SURRENDER  OF  WEATHERFORD.      527 

however,  and   many   who   were   known   to   be   des- 
perate, still   stood  out;   perhaps    from    fear.      Gen- 
eral   Jackson    determined    to    test   the    fidelity    of 
those    chiefs    who    had    submitted,    and    therefore 
ordered  them  to  deliver,  without  delay,  Weatherford 
into  his  hands,  that  he  might  be  dealt  with  as  he 
deserved.      When    they  had   made    known    to    the 
sachem  what  was  required  of  them,  his  noble  spirit 
would  not  submit  to  such  degradation;  and  to  hold 
them  harmless,  he  resolved  to  give  himself  up  without 
compulsion.     Accordingly,  he  proceeded  to  the  Amer- 
ican  camp,  unknown,  until   he   appeared   before  the 
commanding  general,  to  whose  presence,  under  some 
pretence,  he  gained  admission.     General  Jackson  was 
greatly  surprised,  when  the  chief  said, "  I  am  Weather- 
ford,  the  chief  who  commanded  at  the  capture  of  Fort 
Mimms.      I   desire   peace   for   my  people,  and  have 
come  to  ask  it."    Jackson  had,  doubtless,  determined 
upon  his  execution  when  he  should  be  brought  bound, 
as  he  had   directed;  but  his  unexpected  appearance, 
in   this   manner,  saved   him.     The  general  said   he 
was  astonished  that  he  should  venture  to  appear  in  his 
presence,  as  he  was  not  ignorant  of  his  having  been 
at  Fort  Mimms,  nor  of  his  inhuman  conduct  there,  for 
which    he  well  deserved  to  die.      "I  ordered,"  con- 
tinued the  general,  "  that  you  should  be  brought  to  me 
bound ;  and  had  you  been  brought  in  this  manner,  I 
should  have  known  how  to  treat  you."     In  answer 
to    this,  Weatherford   made    the    following    famous 
speech. 

"  I  am  in  your  power — do  with  me  as  you  please 
— I  am  a  soldier.    I  have  done  the  whites  all  the 


528  SECOND   WAR   WITH    ENGLAND. 

harm  I  could.  I  have  fought  them,  and  fought  them 
bravely.  If  I  had  an  army,  I  would  yet  fight — I 
would  contend  to  the  last:  but  I  have  none.  My 
people  are  all  gone.  I  can  only  weep  over  the  mis- 
fortunes of  my  nation." 

General  Jackson  was  pleased  with  his  boldness, 
and  told  him  that,  though  he  was  in  his  power,  yet  he 
would  take  no  advantage ;  that  he  might  yet  join  the 
war  party,  and  contend  against  the  Americans,  if  he 
chose,  but  to  depend  upon  no  quarter  if  taken  after- 
ward ,  and  that  unconditional  submission  was  his  and 
his  people's  only  safety.  Weatherford  rejoined,  in  a 
tone  as  dignified  as  it  was  indignant — "You  can 
safely  address  me  in  such  terms  now.  There  was  a 
time  when  I  could  have  answered  you — there  was  a 
time  when  I  had  a  choice — I  have  none  now.  I  have 
not  even  a  hope.  I  could  once  animate  my  warriors 
to  battle — but  I  cannot  animate  the  dead.  My  war- 
riors can  no  longer  hear  my  voice.  Their  bones  are 
atTalledega,Tallushatchee,Emuckfaw,  and  Tohopeka. 
I  have  not  surrendered  myself  without  thought. 
While  there  was  a  single  chance  of  success,  I  never 
left  my  post,  nor  supplicated  peace.  But  my  people 
are  gone,  and  I  now  ask  it  for  my  nation,  not  for 
myself.  I  look  back  with  deep  sorrow,  and  wish  to 
avert  still  greater  calamities.  If  I  had  been  left  to 
contend  with  the  Georgia  army,  I  would  have  raised 
my  corn  on  one  bank  of  the  river,  and  fought  them 
on  the  other.  But  your  people  have  destroyed  my 
nation.  You  are  a  brave  man.  I  rely  upon  your 
generosity.  You  will  exact  no  terms  of  a  conquered 
people  but  such  as  they  should  accede  to.  If  they 


SURRENDER    OF    WEATHERFORD. 


529 


are  opposed,  you  shall  find  me  amongst  the  sternest 
enforcers  of  obedience.  Those  who  would  still  hold 
out,  can  be  influenced  only  by  a  mean  spirit  of  revenge. 
To  this  they  must  not,  and  shall  not  sacrifice  the  last 
remnant  of  their  country.  You  have  told  our  nation 
that  we  might  go  and  be  safe.  This  is  good  talk,  and 
they  ought  to  listen  to  it.  They  shall  listen  to  it " 


tl 


General   Scott. 


BATTLE  OF  NIAGARA. 

N  the  25th  of  September,  1814,  General 
Brown  received   information  that   the 
British  had  appeared  near  Queen  stown 
Heights  in  considerable  force.    Accord- 
ingly, he  despatched  General  Scott  with  a  part 
of  the  army  to  watch  the  enemy,  and,  if  neces- 
sary, bring   on  an  engagement.      On  arriving 
near  Niagara  Falls,  Scott  learned  that  the  British 


BATTLE    OF    NIAGARA.  531 

were  within  a  short  distance,  and  separated  from  him 
only  by  a  narrow  wood.  Turning  this,  a  thrilling 
spectacle  burst  upon  his  view.  Their  whole  army, 
thirsting  for  battle,  was  sweeping  from  point  to  point 
in  dense  columns,  while  the  scarlet  uniform  of  the 
infantry,  and  gay  trappings  of  the  cavalry,  flashed 
and  dazzled  in  the  setting  sun.  The  day  had  been 
beautiful ;  and  as  the  sun  sat  silently  on  the  horizon, 
lighting  up  the  west  in  a  flood  of  golden  light,  no  sound 
of  nature  disturbed  her  hushed  repose,  save  the  roaring 
of  the  mighty  cataract.  In  the  distance  the  full  moon 
hung  pale  and  timid ;  while,  through  the  mist  that 
covered  Scott's  little  band,  a  full  rainbow  broke  forth, 
as  though  presaging  coming  victory. 

But  peace  was  soon  broken.  Small  as  was  his 
army,  Scott  hesitated  not  to  hurl  it  against  the  haughty 
legions  of  Britain.  The  occasional  firing  of  skir- 
mishers was  heard  first;  then  the  tramping  of  com- 
panies ;  the  shouts  of  officers ;  the  rolling  of  mus- 
ketry ;  the  thundering  of  cannon ;  and  then  one  crash 
of  sounds  that  shook  the  air  and  woods  around,  and 
drowned  even  the  roarings  of  Niagara.  Death 
laughed  triumphantly  over  that  riot,  and  tall  forms 
that  had  recklessly  dared  every  climate,  and  every 
hardship,  sunk  down  by  scores,  like  weeds  before  the 
scythe  of  the  mower.  The  sun  went  down ;  yet,  heed- 
less of  aught  around,  the  mad  combatants  continued 
their  work.  At  the  first  sight  of  the  enemy,  Scott 
had  sent  information  of  their  force  and  position  to 
General  Brown,  and  one  messenger  after  another 
was  seen  sweeping  along  the  road  that  communi- 
cated between  the  two  officers.  A  handful  was 


532  SECOND    WAR    WITH    ENGLAND. 

wrestling  for  victory  with  fearful  odds;  and  there, 
under  the  eye  of  Scott,  they  held  the  envied  treasure 
in  their  hands,  until  reinforcements  arrived. 

Meanwhile,  having  heard  the  noise  of  battle,  Gen- 
eral Brown  was  hurrying  on  the  second  brigade,  with 
all  the  artillery,  to  Scott's  assistance.  As  he  was 
himself  hurrying  forward  he  met  Major  Jones,  assist- 
ant adjutant-general,  who  was  bringing  a  message 
from  General  Scott,  that  he  had  met  the  enemy. 
Pushing  forward,  he  met  Major  Wood,  who  reported 
the  obstinacy  of  the  battle;  and  soon  after,  while 
turning  the  wood,  the  whole  scene  burst  on  his 
view.  Anxious  to  relieve  Scott's  exhausted  brigade, 
the  commander  interposed  a  new  line  between  that 
general's  and  the  British ;  while  the  latter  posted  their 
artillery  upon  a  hill  which  commanded  the  field,  and 
was  the  key  of  all  operations.  The  momentary 
pause  necessary  for  the  completion  of  these  move- 
ments was  soon  interrupted  j  the  battle  grew  hotter 
and  deeper ;  and  the  bosom  of  night  was  lighted  up 
by  the  flashing  of  bayonets,  and  glaring  of  artillery. 

At  length  the  enemy's  artillery  became  so  destruc- 
tive that  it  became  necessary  to  storm  its  position  on 
the  hill.  The  duty  was  assigned  to  Colonel  Miller, 
escorted  by  General  Scott.  Amid  all  the  horrors  of 
that  dark  conflict,  no  duty  was  so  hazardous,  so 
terrible  as  this.  On  those  devoted  men  moved,  while 
blazing  batteries  were  glaring  before  them,  and  the 
balls  ploughing  and  riddling  their  ranks.  Over  mounds 
and  ridges  they  pressed,  their  colonel  in  front,  and 
General  Scott  pioneering  them  through  every  danger. 
More  and  more  loud  those  guns  pealed  on,  until  all 


BATTLE    OF    NIAGARA.  535 

intermission  ceased,  and  all  else  was  swallowed  up  in 
one  wide  flash,  one  deafening  roar.  The  first  regi- 
ment under  Ripley  had  already  given  way ;  but  no- 
thing could  stop  the  intrepid  assailants.  They  reached 
the  work.  Waving  his  sword,  Miller  leaped  on  the 
parapet,  and  instantly  his  comrades  closed  round  him. 
Then  the  cannon  ceased  j  bayonet  clashed  against 
bayonet,  and  all  was  still.  It  was  an  eloquent  silence ; 
and  friends  below  were  racking  with  intense  anxiety. 
On  that  summit  General  Brown  was  anxiously  gazing. 
All  his  hopes  hung  there.  Suddenly  there  arose  one 
long  wild  shout.  The  batteries  had  been  silenced,  the 
enemy  driven  off,  and  the  key  of  their  position  secured. 
Then  friends  below  united  their  huzzas  with  those 
above,  carrying  terror  to  the  bosoms  of  the  British. 
A  second  pause  now  succeeded  the  din  of  war ;  and 
then  began  the  final  struggle.  Charge  after  charge 
was  made  on  the  gallant  Miller ;  but  still  he  held  his 
troops  to  their  posts,  and  flung  back  the  shattered 
columns  of  Britain  in  bleeding  masses.  Again  they 
would  advance,  and  again  retreat,  until  the  ground 
was  strewed  with  dead  and  dying.  On  the  plains, 
horse,  infantry,  artillery,  friend  and  foe,  were  mingled 
in  sickening  disorder.  Companies  were  trampled  by 
their  own  cavalry,  and  commanders  were  frequently 
leading  the  squadrons  of  their  enemy.  A  black  pall 
of  smoke  shut  out  all  light,  and  showers  of  iron  hail 
were  flying  at  random  among  friend  and  foe.  Generals 
Brown  and  Scott  were  severely  wounded,  a  general 
killed,  together  with  many  officers  on  both  sides  killed 
or  wounded.  At  midnight  the  enemy  retreated.  The 
battle  of  Niagara  was  finished. 


BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS. 


EAVING  unnoticed,  from 
the  scantiness  of  our 
limits,  a  number  of  mili- 
tary achievements  during 
the  brilliant  campaign  of 
1814,  we  have  only  space 
to  give  a  brief  sketch  of 
the  great  battle  of  New 

Orleans,  before  passing  to  the  recent  achievements  of 

our  armies  in  Mexico. 

General  Jackson's  hard  service  in  the  Creek  war 

of  1813-14  had  given  him  not  only  experience,  but 


BATTLE   OF    NEW  ORLEANS.  537 

increased  confidence  in  his  own  remarkable  abilities. 
His  decision  of  character  was  nobly  evinced  in  his 
summary  treatment  of  the  Spanish  authorities  in 
Florida,  as  well  as  in  the  strong  measures  which  he 
took  for  the  prevention  of  treason,  and  for  the  defence 
of  New  Orleans.  The  action  of  the  23d  of  December 
was  of  immense  importance,  in  daunting  the  enemy, 
and  gaining  time  for  defensive  operations,  and  the 
arrival  of  reinforcements  ;  the  last  of  which,  two 
thousand  five  hundred  Kentuckians,  arrived  on  the 
4th  of  January,  1815. 

On  the  night  of  the  7th,  with  infinite  labour,  the 
British  succeeded  in  getting  their  boats  into  the  Mis- 
sissippi, by  widening  and  deepening  the  channel  of  the 
bayou,  from  which  they  had  about  two  weeks  before 
effected  their  disembarkation.  Though  these  opera- 
tions were  not  unperceived,  it  was  not  in  Jackson's 
power  to  impede  them  by  a  general  attack :  the  nature 
of  the  troops  under  his  command,  mostly  militia,  ren- 
dering it  too  hazardous  to  attempt  extensive  offensive 
movements  in  an  open  country,  against  a  numerous 
and  well-disciplined  army.  Although  his  forces,  as  to 
number,  had  been  increased  by  the  arrival  of  the 
Kentucky  division,  his  strength  had  received  very  little 
addition;  a  small  portion  only  of  that  detachment 
being  provided  with  arms.  Compelled  thus  to  wait 
the  attack  of  the  enemy,  Jackson,  however,  took  every 
measure  to  repel  it  when  it  should  be  made,  and  to 
defeat  the  object  in  view. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  8th,  the  enemy,  after 
throwing  a  heavy  shower  of  bombs  and  congreve 
rockets,  advanced  their  columns  on  the  right  and  left 


538  SECOND    WAR   WITH    ENGLAND. 

to  storm  the  intrenchments  on  the  left  bank  of  the 
Mississippi,  throwing  over  a  considerable  force  m  his 
boats  at  the  same  time  to  the  right  bank.  The  in- 
trenchments on  the  right  bank  were  occupied  by 
General  Morgan,  with  the  New  Orleans  contingent, 
the  Louisiana  militia,  and  a  strong  detachment  of  the 
Kentucky  troops;  General  Jackson,  with  the  Ten- 
nessee and  the  remainder  of  the  Kentucky  militia, 
occupied  the  works  on  the  left  bank. 

The  columns  of  the  enemy  advanced  in  good  order 
towards  Jackson's  intrenchments,  the  men  shoulder- 
ing their  muskets,  and  all  carrying  fascines,  and  some 
with  ladders.  The  batteries  now  opened  an  incessant 
fire  on  the  British  columns,  which  continued  to  advance 
in  pretty  good  order,  until,  in  a  few  minutes,  the  mus- 
ketry of  the  militia,  joining  their  fire  with  that  of  the 
artillery,  began  to  make  an  impression  on  them,  which 
soon  threw  them  into  confusion.  At  this  time  the  noise 
of  the  continued  rolling  fire  resembled  the  concussion  of 
tremendous  peals  of  thunder.  For  some  time  the  Bri- 
tish officers  succeeded  in  animating  the  courage  of  their 
troops,  although  every  discharge  from  the  batteries 
opened  the  columns,  mowing  down  whole  files,  which 
were  almost  instantaneously  replaced  by  new  troops 
coming  up  close  after  the  first :  but  these  also  shared 
the  same  fate,  until  at  last,  after  twenty-five  minutes 
continued  firing,  through  which  a  few  platoons  ad- 
vanced to  the  edge  of  the  ditch,  the  columns  broke 
and  retreated  in  confusion. 

A  second  attack  was  received  in  the  same  manner. 
The  British  were  forced  to  retreat,  with  an  immense 
Joss.  But  vain  was  the  attempt  of  the  officers  to 


BATTLE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS.        541 

bring  them  up  a  third  time.  The  soldiers  were  insen- 
sible to  everything  but  danger,  and  saw  nothing  but 
death,  which  had  struck  so  many  of  their  comrades. 

Near  the  commencement  of  the  attack,  General 
Packenham,  the  British  commander-in-chief,  lost  his 
life  at  the  head  of  his  troops,  and  soon  after  Generals 
Keane  and  Gibbs  were  carried  off  the  field  dangerously 
wounded.  A  great  many  other  officers  of  rank  fell, 
and  the  plain  between  the  front  line  of  the  British  and 
the  American  works,  a  distance  of  four  hundred  yards, 
was  literally  covered  with  the  enemy's  dead  and 
wounded.  At  this  time  General  Jackson's  loss  was 
only  seven  killed  and  six  wounded. 

The  entire  destruction  of  the  British  army  had 
now  been  inevitable,  had  not  the  militia  on  the  right 
bank  of  the  river  ingloriously  fled.  Commodore  Pat- 
terson, who  commanded  the  batteries,  was  of  course 
forced  to  abandon  them,  after  spiking  his  guns.  This 
changed  the  aspect  of  affairs.  The  enemy  now  occu- 
pied a  position  from  which  he  could  annoy  Jackson, 
and  by  means  of  which  he  might  defeat,  in  a  great 
measure,  the  effects  of  the  success  of  the  Americans 
on  the  other  side  of  the  river.  It  became,  therefore, 
an  object  of  the  first  consequence  to  dislodge  him  as 
soon  as  possible.  For  this  object,  all  the  means 
which  Jackson  could  with  any  safety  use,  were  put 
in  preparation.  But  so  great  had  been  the  loss  of  the 
British  on  the  left  bank,  that  they  were  not  able  to 
hold  the  position  which  they  had  gained  on  the  right 
bank  without  jeoparding  the  safety  of  the  whole  army. 
The  troops  were  therefore  withdrawn,  and  Jackson 
immediately  regained  the  lost  position. 
46 


542  SECOND    WAR    WITH    ENGLAND. 

The  spirit  of  vengeance,  which  marked  the  conduct 
of  the  British  during  the  campaign,  was  manifested 
even  in  this  battle,  although  they  suffered  so  signal  a 
defeat.  After  their  repulse  on  the  left  bank,  numbers 
of  the  American  troops,  prompted  merely  by  senti- 
ments of  humanity,  went,  of  their  own  accord,  in 
front  of  their  lines,  to  assist  the  wounded  British, 
to  give  them  drink,  and  to  carry  them  within  the  lines. 
While  they  were  thus  employed,  they  were  actually 
fired  upon,  and  several  killed.  Yet  the  others,  regard- 
less of  the  danger,  persevered  in  their  laudable  pur- 
pose. This  instance  of  baseness  may  have  proceeded 
from  individuals ;  nor  would  it  in  common  cases  be 
presumed,  that  the  men  were  ordered  to  fire  by  their 
officers :  but  if  the  fact  be,  as  has  been  repeatedly  as- 
serted without  contradiction,  that  the  watchword  of 
the  day  was  the  significant  words  "  beauty  and  booty" 
no  charge  would  seem  too  atrocious  for  belief  against 
the  British  commanders. 

The  total  loss  of  the  Americans  in  this  action  on 
both  sides  of  the  river,  was  thirteen  killed,  thirty-nine 
wounded,  and  nineteen  missing.  The  British  acknow- 
ledge a  loss  of  two  hundred  and  ninety-three  killed, 
twelve  hundred  and  sixty-seven  wounded,  and  four 
hundred  and  eighty-four  missing.  About  one  thousand 
stand  of  arms  of  different  descriptions  were  taken  by 
the  Americans. 


General   Taylor 


BATTLE  OF  PALO  ALTO. 


REVIOUS  to  the  exist- 
ing war  with  Mexico, 
the  arms  of  the  United 
States  have  met  with 
varied  fortunes;  some- 
times successful  and 
sometimes  exposed  to 
heavy"  disasters.  But, 


544  WAR   WITH   MEXICO. 

the  present  war  Has  been  one  of  unvaried  triumph. 
In  every  action  where  our  brave  soldiers  have  met 
the  enemy,  victory  has  perched  upon  their  banners. 

The  first  of  these  brilliant  actions,  that  of  Palo 
Alto,  is  thus  described  by  Captain  Henry,  in  his 
eloquent  and  interesting  "  Campaign  Sketches :" 

The  following  was  the  order  of  our  line  of  battle : 
The  right  wing,  commanded  by  Colonel  Twiggs,  was 
composed  of  the  5th  infantry  on  the  right,  Ringgold's 
artillery,  the  3d  infantry,  Churchill's  eighteen-pound 
battery,  and  4th  infantry.  Left  wing,  commanded  by 
Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  Belknap,  composed  of 
Duncan's  artillery — the  artillery  companies  serving 
as  infantry — and  the  8th  infantry.  Ringgold's  and 
Duncan's  batteries  were  immediately  advanced,  and 
opened  their  fires.  The  firing  of  the  enemy  was  in- 
cessant, although  not  very  accurate.  The  enemy's 
line  of  battle  was  along  and  in  advance  of  the 
chapparal.  Their  cavalry  (lancers)  were  on  the  left, 
then  a  battery,  then  masses  of  infantry,  then  a  battery, 
masses  of  infantry,  another  battery,  and  again  masses 
of  infantry.  Their  position  had  been  deliberately 
assumed,  knowing  where  we  would  pass  the  road. 
The  fire  of  the  gallant  Ringgold's  battery  on  our 
'  right  told  with  deadly  effect  upon  their  mass  of 
cavalry ;  platoons  appeared  to  be  mowed  down  at  a 
time.  The  two  eighteen-pounders  carried  death  and 
destruction  with  them.  The  cavalry  soon  found  it 
was  getting  too  warm  for  them,  and  commenced 
moving  off,  by  a  flank  movement  to  the  left,  in  a  trot, 
and  were  tickled  into  a  gallop  by  a  discharge  of  the 
eighteens.  Their  flank  movement  threatened  our 


BATTLE  OF  PALO  ALTO.          545 

train,  and  was  promptly  met  by  the  movement  of 
a  section  of  Ringgold's  battery  under  Lieutenant 
Ridgely,  the  5th  and  3d  infantry.  The  strength  of 
this  body  of  cavalry  was  computed  at  one  thousand, 
and,  therefore,  was  a  formidable  demonstration.  The 
5th  received  them  in  square,  and  from  the  fire  of 
an  angle  vacated  twenty  saddles.  Some  of  them  still 
passed  on,  until  they  saw  the  3d  advancing  in  column 
by  division,  when  they  rapidly  retreated.  Lieutenant 
Ridgely  performed  excellent  service  with  his  pieces. 
He  aimed  and  fired  a  shell,  which  struck  a  lancer 
about  the  middle,  and  exploded  simultaneously  with 
the  blow,  making  one  mangled  mass  of  horse  and 
rider. 

Thus  the  battle  progressed  on  our  right.  On 
the  left,  the  gallant  Duncan  was  pouring  in  a  most 
destructive  fire.  Each  shot  seemed  to  take  effect ; 
and,  as  our  men  saw  the  execution,  their  cries  of 
triumph  mingled  with  the  cannon's  roar.  The  fire 
of  the  enemy  upon  our  left  was  more  galling;  the 
8th  infantry,  particularly,  suffered,  having  been  kept 
in  column,  instead  of  being  deployed  in  line.  The 
regiments  of  artillery  and  infantry,  and  squadrons  of 
dragoons,  stood  firm  as  veterans,  ready  to  support 
our  batteries.  The  prairie  took  fire,  and  the  burning 
of  the  long,  rank  grass,  sent  up  columns  of  smoke, 
which  at  times  concealed  the  opposing  forces.  The 
cannonading  commenced  at  three  P.  M.,  and  ceased 
for  a  short  time  at  four  P.  M. 

In  the  mean  time,  a  masterly  movement  to  the 
right,  to  outflank  the  enemy,  was  being  executed. 
Ringgold's  battery  and  the  eighteen-pounders  were 

46*  Mm 


546  WAR   WITH   MEXICO. 

pushed  forward  toward  the  left  flank  of  the  enemy. 
The  4th  infantry  and  1st  brigade  moved  up  to  their 
support.  As  soon  as  the  firing  recommenced,  the 
enemy  were  forced  to  change  their  line  of  battle. 
Lieutenant  Duncan,  under  cover  of  the  smoke,  con- 
ceived and  executed  a  brilliant  flank  movement  on  the 
enemy's  right.  He  advanced  with  his  battery,  and 
suddenly  debouched  and  poured  in  a  galling  enfilading 
fire  upon  their  right  flank;  it  was  thrown  into  the 
utmost  confusion.  His  shells  and  shrapnell  shot  told 
with  murderous  effect.  At  this  moment,  if  a  charge 
had  been  made,  so  great  was  the  confusion  of  the 
enemy,  the  whole  field  would  have  been  swept ;  but 
the  general  felt  bound  to  protect  his  train,  and  feared 
any  movement  which  would  have  laid  it  open  to  an 
attack.  As  night  approached  the  fire  of  the  enemy 
slackened,  and  it  ceased  on  both  sides  with  the  setting 
sun.  We  had  driven  the  enemy  from  his  position, 
and  forced  him  to  retire.  We  encamped  as  victors 
upon  the  field  of  battle.  The  last  rays  of  the  setting 
sun  tinged  with  a  golden  light  the  clouds  of  battle  that 
hung  heavily  over  the  field  of  carnage;  the  weary 
army  rested  on  their  arms,  and  slept  sweetly  on  the 
prairie  grass. 

Our  loss  was  wonderfully  small.  Nine  killed,  forty- 
four  wounded,  and  two  missing.  Major  Ringgold, 
Captain  Page,  Lieutenants  Luther,  2d  artillery,  and 
Wallen,  4th  infantry,  were  wounded.  Major  Ring- 
gold  received  a  shot  while  seated  on  his  horse,  which 
carried  away  the  flesh  on  his  legs  from  his  knees  up, 
and  passed  through  the  withers  of  his  thorough-bred 
charger,  "David  Branch;"  of  this  wound  he  died 


BATTLE  OF  PALO  ALTO. 


547 


the  next  day.  Captain  Page  had  his  lower  jaw  shot 
off;  Lieutenant  Luther  was  wounded  in  the  calf 
of  the  leg,  and  Lieutenant  Wallen  very  slightly 
in  the  arm ;  Captain  Bliss,  assistant  adjutant-general, 
had  his  horse  shot  under  him ;  likewise  Lieutenant 
Daniels  of  the  2d  artillery.  The  wounds  of  the 
men  were  very  severe,  most  of  them  requiring 
amputation  of  some  limb.  The  surgeon's  saw  was 
going  the  livelong  night,  and  the  groans  of  the  poor 
sufferers  were  heart-rending.  Too  much  praise  can- 
not be  bestowed  upon  our  medical  officers  for  their 
devotion  and  prompt  action.  It  was  a  sad  duty  for 
them.  The  enemy,  commanded  by  General  Arista, 
were  six  thousand  strong ;  we  were  two  thousand  two 
hundred  and  eleven ;  only  the  difference  of  three 
thousand  one  hundred  and  one,  and  they  in  a  selected 
position.  Singular  to  relate,  the  battle  of  Palo  Alto 
(tall  timber)  was  fought  on  the  spot  which  General 
Taylor  predicted  when  he  first  passed  over  the  ground. 


Death    of  Ringgold. 


Captain   Walker, 


BATTLE  OF  RESACA  DE  LA  PALMA. 

)EAL  actors  in  a  battle  describe 
it  with  more  vividness  than  can 
possibly  be  done  by  the  historian 
in  his  study.     Captain  Henry's 
account  of  the  battle  of  Resaca 
de  la  Palma  is  an  illustration  of 
this  remark.     After  the  battle 
of  Palo  Alto,  he  says  that  the  dragoons  and 
Captain  Walker's  company  of  volunteers, 
thrown  out  in  advance,  soon  returned  and  reported 
the  chapparal  free,  and  the  enemy  in  full  retreat 


BATTLE    OF    RESACA    DE    LA    PALMA.          551 

along  the  road.     His  description  of  the  battle  of  the 
9th  of  May  is  as  follows : 

About  one  P.  M.  the  army  resumed  its  march. 
When  we  first  halted,  Captain  G.  A.  M'Call  had  been 
sent  in  advance,  with  one  hundred  picked  men,  to 
scour  the  chapparal  and  watch  the  progress  of  the 
enemy.  Captain  C.  F.  Smith,  of  the  artillery,  with  his 
battalion  of  light  companies  of  the  1st  brigade,  fol- 
lowed. We  proceeded  through  the  chapparal  to 
within  three  miles  of  the  fort,  when  word  was  passed 
to  the  rear  that  the  enemy  were  in  force,  and  in  a 
selected  position.  The  advance  under  Captain  M'Call 
had  discovered  them,  and  after  a  spirited  brush,  re- 
tired, agreeably  to  orders,  to  await  the  arrival  of  the 
main  body.  There  was  not  a  moment's  hesitation ; 
our  brave  general  determined  to  give  them  immediate 
battle.  Our  troops  filed  past  the  train,  and  deployed 
as  skirmishers  to  the  right  and  left  of  the  road.  Cap- 
tain M'Call's  command  was  ordered  by  the  genera] 
"  to  advance  and  draw  the  fire  of  the  enemy."  Nobly 
did  they  perform  that  terrible  service. 

The  enemy,  occupying  the  opposite  bank  of  a 
ravine,  concave  toward  us,  had  planted  their  batteries 
to  rake  the  road,  and  every  approach  (few  in  number) 
through  the  almost  impenetrable  chapparal.  The  fire 
of  the  enemy  was  drawn  by  the  advance.  Lieutenant 
Ridgely,  fit  successor  to  the  gallant  Ringgold,  was 
ordered  forward  with  his  battery.  The  struggle  for 
victory  then  commenced.  The  artillery  of  the  enemy 
swept  the  ground  with  their  grape  and  canister; 
Lieutenant  Ridgely  returned  it  with  murderous  effect. 
Masses  of  their  infantry,  lining  the  banks  of  the 


552  WAR   WITH   MEXICO. 

ravine,  and  pressing  forward  into  the  chapparal,  were 
met  by  our  skirmishers  on  the  left  with  a  gallantry 
and  determination,  on  both  sides,  rarely  equalled. 
Repeatedly  were  bayonets  crossed,  the  enemy  giving 
way  slowly,  and  fighting  for  every  inch  of  the  ground. 
The  4th,  5th,  8th,  and  part  of  the  3d  were  on  the  left, 
and  engaged  in  this  sanguinary  struggle.  Owing  to 
the  dense  chapparal,  the  regiments  became  mixed,  but 
fought  not  the  less  severely.  The  enemy  clung  to 
their  batteries  with  the  greatest  pertinacity.  Ridgely's 
artillery  thundered  in  reply.  This  gallant  officer,  in 
one  of  his  daring  advances,  had  only  one  piece  unlim- 
bered,  when  he  was  charged  by  a  body  of  lancers, 
who  came  dashing  down  upon  him  like  thunder,  when 
Sergeant  Kearnes  put  a  load  of  canister  on  the  top 
t>f  a  shell  and  fired  it;  this  scattered  them  all  but 
four,  who  still  dashed  along.  Lieutenant  Ridgely 
charged  them  in  person,  and  drove  them  off. 

Captain  May  rode  back  to  the  general,  and  asked 
if  he  should  charge  the  battery  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  ravine.  "  Charge,  captain,  nolens  volens  /"  was 
the  reply;  and  away  dashed  the  gallant  fellow.  As 
he  passed  Ridgely's  battery,  Ridgely  exclaimed, "  Hold 
on,  Charley,  till  I  draw  their  Jire  /"  and  it  is  well  for 
May  that  he  partially  succeeded.  Away  dashed  this 
gallant  squadron  down  the  ravine;  Lieutenant  Inge 
fell,  and  many  of  their  saddles  were  vacated.  On  went 
the  rest ;  crossed  the  ravine,  and  captured  the  battery. 
Captain  Graham's  company  was  associated  with  May's 
in  this  memorable  charge.  General  La  Vega,  stand- 
ing at  his  battery  to  the  last,  was  taken  prisoner  by 
May,  and  passed  to  the  rear. 


BATTLE    OF    RESACA    DE    LA    PALMA.         553 

On  the  right  of  the  road,  where  the  3d  deployed, 
no  enemy  was  met  j  but  the  regiment  so  far  outflanked 
them  as  to  be  in  danger  of  fires  from  our  own  batteries. 
The  density  of  the  chapparal  was  such  that  they  could 
not  make  their  way  through,  but  were  forced  to  return, 
in  order  to  get  into  the  action.  They  reached  the 
ravine  just  after  the  desperate  charge  of  the  infantry 
(in  which  the  8th  was  so  conspicuous)  had  completely 
routed  the  enemy.  Immediately  after  their  batteries 
were  captured,  Duncan  came  up  with  his  battery  and 
took  the  advance.  The  dragoons,  3d  infantry,  and 
Captain  Smith's  command,  were  ordered  to  support  the 
artillery.  The  enemy  were  in  full  retreat.  On  we  all 
pushed,  hemmed  in  a  narrow  road  by  a  dense  chappa- 
ral on  each  side,  the  artillery  advancing  and  pouring 
in  its  bloody  fire,  and  clearing  the  road.  About  two 
hundred  yards  from  the  ravine  we  came  upon  the  camp 
of  the  enemy.  It  was  already  captured  and  deserted. 
To  this  point  the  gallant  Barbour  had  fearlessly  ad- 
vanced with  his  company  of  the  3d  infantry,  and,  un- 
aided, successfully  resisted  a  desperate  charge  of 
cavalry:  the  empty  saddles,  and  horses  writhing  in 
the  agony  of  death,  marked  the  spot  where  the  struggle 
occurred. 

The  huge  packs  of  the  enemy  were  arranged  with 
great  regularity  upon  the  ground ;  mules,  some  with 
packs,  were  scattered  about ;  beeves  were  killed,  their 
camp-fires  lighted,  and  their  meals  cooking.  They 
evidently  expected  to  have  been  undisturbed  that  night. 
On,  on  we  went,  keeping  up  a  run,  and  yelling  like 
mad !  The  enemy  now  and  then  gave  symptoms  of  a 
stand,  but  were  driven  on,  scattering  themselves  in  the 
47 


554 


WAR   WITH   MEXICO. 


chapparal,  and  availing  themselves  of  every  trail  that 
led  to  the  river.  We  neared  the  lines  of  our  old 
camp;  our  cheers  reached  high  heaven,  when  they 
were  suddenly  silenced  by  three  shots  from  an  eighteen- 
pounder,  which  came  very  near  killing  some  of  our 
men.  The  first  impression  was  that  our  friends  had 
mistaken  us  for  the  enemy,  and  were  firing  at  us  from 
the  fort ;  but  we  soon  ascertained  the  shots  came  from 
the  city.*  The  enemy  fled  in  every  direction,  and 
many  were  drowned  in  their  attempts  to  swim  the 
river.  It  was  a  perfect  rout,  "  horse,  foot,  and  dra- 
goons." 

*  The  artillery  battalion,  under  Colonel  Childs,  remained  in  rear  to 
guard  the  train,  and  thus  reduced  our  righting  force  to  one  thousand 
seven  hundred. 


Colonel   Jack  Hays. 


CAPTURE  OF  MONTEREY. 

EFORE  his  arrival  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Monterey,  with  the 
army  of  occupation,  General 
Taylor  received  frequent  intima- 
tions from  Mexican  deserters, 
that  the  city  would  be  surren- 
dered without  a  struggle.  But 
on  approaching  it,  he  discovered 
that  the  most  strenuous  exertions  had  been 

made  for  putting  it  in  a  state  of  defence. 

47* 


558  WAR  WITH   MEXICO. 

Here,  then,  was  an  enterprise  worthy  of  Taylor's 
genius.  He  was  to  capture,  with  six  thousand  men, 
and  but  a  single  piece  of  artillery  suitable  for  a  siege,  a 
strongly  fortified  city,  with  a  garrison  of  twelve  thou- 
sand men,  apparently  determined  to  resist  to  the  last. 
He  was  not  long  in  taking  his  resolution.  Approaching 
the  city  from  the  east,  he  perceived  that  it  was 
commanded  by  fortified  heights  on  the  northwest. 
He  therefore  detached  General  Worth  with  a  compe- 
tent force  to  storm  these  heights,  while,  with  the  main 
body  of  the  army,  he  should  make  a  diversion  in  his 
favour  on  the  eastern  side.  Our  limits  will  permit 
only  a  sketch  or  two  of  detached  portions  of  the 
siege.  But  these  sketches  are  thrilling.  The  follow- 
ing account  of  a  cavalry  charge  made  by  a  portion 
of  General  Worth's  division  on  the  21st  of  September, 
1846,  is  from  the  "Scouting  Expeditions"  of  S.  C. 
Reid,  Jr.,  Esq. : 

As  the  day  gradually  dawned  on  the  21st  of  Sep- 
tember, the  soft  gleams  of  light  presented  to  our  view 
the  surrounding  mountains,  vales,  and  hills,  clothed  in 
samite  green.  The  hallowed  stillness  of  the  hour 
seemed  to  proclaim  eternal  peace,  and  as  we  cast  our 
eye  towards  Independence  Hill,  we  half  doubted  that 
only  on  the  evening  of  the  day  before,  we  had  heard 
from  its  summit  the  booming  roar  of  its  battery.  The 
men  were  awakened  from  their  slumbers,  and  without 
breakfast  were  ordered  to  renew  the  line  of  march. 
All  wet  as  we  were,  we  mounted  into  the  saddle, 
M'Culloch's  company  taking  the  advance,  followed 
by  the  whole  regiment  of  rangers,  while  the  remainder 
of  the  division  came  up  in  close  order  of  battle.  We 


CAPTURE    OF    MONTEREY.  559 

had  proceeded  about  a  mile  and  a  half,  when  at  a  turn 
in  the  road,  near  a  hacienda,  called  San  Jeronimo,  we 
came  in  full  view  of  the  enemy's  forces,  cavalry  and 
infantry,  numbering  about  fifteen  hundred,  drawn  up 
in  battle  array.    The  Saltillo  road,  and  the  corn-fields 
near  it,  seemed  filled  with  infantry.     The  head  of  our 
column  was  immediately  halted,  and  Colonel  Hays's 
regiment  ordered  to  deploy  by  company  to  the  right, 
and  dismount;  which  we  did,  forming  into  a  small 
gulley.      The   light   companies  of  the   1st  brigade, 
under  Captains  C.  F.  Smith  and  J.  B.  Scott,  supported 
us  with  Duncan's  light  artillery,  followed  by  the  bat- 
talions and  heads  of  columns.     Thus  drawn  up  in 
order  of  battle,  the  two  forces   stood  eyeing  each 
other,  at  the  distance  of  two  hundred  yards,  when 
they  approached  slowly  and  opened  a  fire  from  their 
escopets,  the  battery  on  Independence  Hill  at  the  same 
time  opening  on  the  column.    The  rangers  were  now 
ordered  to  mount,  advance  upon  the  enemy,  and  take 
position  by  the  fence,  on  the  road-side,  when  they 
returned  the  enemy's  fire  with  their  rifles,  and  then 
dismounted   under  cover  of  the   fence.      M'Culloch 
being  on  the  extreme  right,  did  not  get  this  order  in 
time,  and,  seeing  the  lancers  preparing  for  a  charge, 
gallantly  led  up  his  men  to  meet  them.    On  they 
came,  at  a  full  gallop,  led  by  their  brave  lieutenant- 
colonel,  Juan  N.  Najera,  in  dashing  style,  with  pennons 
of  green  and  red  fluttering  in  the  wind.     M'Culloch 
received  them  with  a  leaden  rain  of  rifles,  pistols,  and 
shot-guns ;  while  the  Texans  at  the  fence  poured  in 
upon  them  a  deadly  fire.     The  clash  was  great,  and 
at  the  shock  the  host  moved  to  and  fro  as  the  forest 


560  WAR   WITH   MEXICO. 

bends  beneath  the  storm.  But  our  horses  were  too 
powerful  to  be  overcome ;  and  many  were  made  the 
empty  saddles  that  had  borne  the  enemy's  bravest 
men.  We  saw  their  lieutenant-colonel  fall,  while  in 
the  thickest  of  the  fight,  and  exhorting  his  men  to 
rally  and  stand  firm.  He  was  a  tall,  splendid-looking 
fellow,  with  a  fierce  moustache,  and  beautiful  teeth, 
which  were  set  hard,  as  he  lay  on  the  ground  with  his 
face  partly  turned  up,  his  eyes  yet  glassy  in  the  struggle 
of  death,  and  his  features  depicting  the  most  marked 
determination.  M'Culloch's  men  were  now  engaged 
hand  to  hand  with  the  enemy's  lancers,  using  their 
five-shooters,  while  some  few  beat  back  the  enemy 
with  their  swords.  We  were  at  this  time  within  three 
hundred  yards  of  the  Saltillo  road,  with  a  corn-field 
on  our  left,  and  a  high  hill  on  our  right. 

The  light  companies,  in  the  mean  time,  and  Duncan's 
artillery,  had  opened  their  fire ;  and  the  enemy  were 
borne  back  with  great  slaughter,  carrying  with  them 
a  portion  of  M'Culloch's  men,  who  had  fought  their 
way  nearly  to  the  enemy's  centre,  and,  seeing  their 
peril,  were  fighting  their  way  back.  Then  it  was  that 
the  hardest  struggle  took  place.  Armstrong,  one  of 
our  company,  was  unhorsed  by  a  lancer,  having  re- 
ceived two  wounds ;  yet  on  foot,  with  sword  in  hand, 
he  defended  himself  against  two  of  the  enemy.  He 
killed  one,  when  an  Irishman,  from  the  artillery  bat- 
talion, discovered  his  situation,  and  saying  that  he  did 
not  know  whether  he  had  buck  or  ball  in,  as  he  drew 
up  his  musket,  but  that  he  had  better  kill  them  both 
than  miss  the  Mexican,  fired,  and  saved  the  ranger ! 
Fielding  Alston,  and  J.  F.  Minter,  also  of  our  company, 


CAPTURE    OF    MONTEREY.  561 

while  fighting  gallantly,  received  two  lance  wounds. 
Young  Musson,  of  New  Orleans,  who  had  joined  our 
corps,  was  engaged,  at  the  same  time,  with  a  captain 
of  cavalry,  hand  to  hand,  in  a  sword-fight,  and  at  one 
time  became  very  nearly  overpowered;  when  asked 
why  he  did  not  shoot  his  fde,  he  replied,  with  true 
southern  chivalry,  that  "  the  Mexican  had  no  pistol, 
and  it  would  have  been  taking  an  advantage  over 
him !"  As  another  of  our  men  was  being  overcome 
by  a  Mexican,  the  gallant  Captain  Cheshire,  a  private 
in  the  rangers,  dashed  up  to  his  rescue,  and  having  no 
fire,  seized  a  holster  pistol,  and,  with  the  butt-end  of 
it,  felled  the  Mexican  to  the  ground. 

M'Culloch  had  been  twice  borne  back  with  the 
Mexicans,  and  making  a  desperate  struggle  to  gain 
his  company,  he  put  his  horse  to  his  speed,  running 
everything  down  in  his  way,  and  regained  his  com- 
mand without  a  scratch  !  The  Mexicans  had  taken  to 
the  hills ;  and  the  regular  skirmishers,  or  light  com- 
panies, under  Captains  Smith  and  Scott,  continued 
their  fire  over  our  heads,  killing  by  accident  one  of 
the  rangers.  About  this  time,  Captain  Gutierrez,  of 
the  enemy's  cavalry,  who  had  received  three  wounds, 
was  also  killed ;  he  died  fighting  to  the  last,  one  of 
the  most  courageous  of  his  race.  As  the  Mexicans 
gave  way,  the  light  companies  rushed  up  the  hills, 
firing  over  the  ridge  at  the  retreating  enemy,  who 
were  routed  and  flying  in  every  direction. 


General  Worth. 


BATTLE  IN  THE  STREETS  OF  MONTEREY. 


APTURING  one  fort  after 
another,    General    Worth 
finally  penetrated  into  the 
streets  of  Monterey.     One 
of  the  many  terrible  scenes  which 
ensued,  is  thus  described  by  an 
eye-witness,  Mr.  Reid: 

Every   street  was   barricaded 
with    heavy    works    of  masonry,   the  walls 
being  some  three  or  four  feet  thick,  with  em- 
brasures for  one  or  more  guns,  which  raked  the 


STREET-FIGHT    IN   MONTEREY.  565 

streets ;  the  walls  of  gardens  and  sides  of  houses  were 
all  loopholed  for  musketry;  the  tops  of  the  houses  were 
covered  with  troops,  who  were  sheltered  behind  para- 
pets, some  four  feet  high,  upon  which  were  piled  sand- 
bags for  their  better  protection,  and  from  which  they 
showered  down  a  hurricane  of  balls. 

Between  three  and  four  o'clock,  from  the  cessation 
of  the  fire  in  the  opposite  direction,  it  was  evident  that 
the  enemy  had  become  disengaged,  which  enabled 
them  to  draw  off  men  and  guns  to  our  side,  as  their 
fire  had  now  become  almost  doubly  increased.  The 
street-fight  became  appalling — both  columns  were  now 
closely  engaged  with  the  enemy,  and  steadily  advanced 
inch  by  inch — our  artillery  was  heard  rumbling  over 
the  paved  streets,  galloping  here  and  there,  as  the 
emergency  required,  and  pouring  forth  a  blazing  fire 
of  grape  and  ball — volley  after  volley  of  musketry, 
and  the  continued  peals  of  artillery  became  almost 
deafening — the  artillery  of  both  sides  raked  the  streets, 
the  balls  striking  the  houses  with  a  terrible  crash, 
while  amid  the  roar  of  battle  were  heard  the  battering 
instruments  used  by  the  Texans.  Doors  were  forced 
open,  walls  were  battered  down — entrances  made 
through  the  longitudinal  walls,  and  the  enemy  driven 
from  room  to  room,  and  from  house  to  house,  followed 
by  the  shrieks  of  women,  and  the  sharp  crack  of  the 
Texan  rifles.  Cheer  after  cheer  was  heard  in  proud 
and  exulting  defiance,  as  the  Texans  or  regulars 
gained  the  housetops  by  means  of  ladders,  while  they 
poured  in  a  rain  of  bullets  upon  the  enemy  on  the  op- 
posite houses.  It  was  indeed  a  most  strange  and 
novel  scene  of  warfare. 
48 


566  WAR   WITH   MEXICO. 

The  column  of  Colonel  Childs  sustained  a  dreadful 
fire  in  the  plaza,  and  while  forcing  its  way  up  the 
streets.  Amid  this  storm  of  destruction,  the  daring 
and  noble  Captain  R.  C.  Gatlin,  of  the  7th  infantry, 
was  severely  wounded  in  the  arm,  while  gallantly 
leading  on  his  company.  This  column  had  now 
moved  forward  two  squares,  both  sides  of  the  plaza 
being  occupied  by  our  troops ;  while  Walker's  Texans 
were  working  their  way  towards  the  enemy  through 
that  line  of  buildings,  by  means  of  pickaxes  and  their 
rifles.  Captains  Scriven,  of  the  8th,  and  Merrill,  of 
the  5th,  had  advanced  so  far  as  to  gain  a  line  of  build- 
ings to  the  east,  and  were  driving  the  enemy  before 
them.  The  two  companies  of  the  5th  were  com- 
manded by  Lieutenants  D.  H.  M'Phail  and  P.  A. 
Farrelly,  the  latter  the  youngest  officer  in  the  regiment 
(Lieutenant  Rossell,  the  commanding  officer  of  his 
company,  being  wounded),  who  maintained  this  ad- 
vanced position,  keeping  up  a  fire  upon  the  enemy, 
occupying  the  houses  in  the  vicinity  and  in  the  next 
street  beyond,  which  was  used  by  the  enemy  as  the 
principal  thoroughfare  to  the  citadel.  This  position 
was  gallantly  held  until  dark,  when  Captain  Merrill 
retired  to  occupy  the  college  building  for  the  night. 

The  column  on  the  next  street,  under  Brigadier- 
General  Smith,  was  at  the  same  time  heard  in  desperate 
conflict  with  the  enemy.  Captain  Holmes,  with  the 
Texans  under  Colonel  Hays,  had  pushed  their  way 
with  crowbars  and  pickaxes,  through  houses  and 
garden  walls,  under  a  continuous  heavy  fire  of  grape, 
shot,  and  musketry,  until  they  came  within  point-blank 
range  of  the  enemy  in  the  Cathedral  plaza.  Captains 


STREET-FIGHT    IN    MONTEREY.  567 

R.  H.  Ross  and  G.  R.  Paul,  with  two  companies  of  the 
7th,  had  taken  post  in  a  redoubt  on  the  left  bank  of  the 
river,  which  they  bravely  held  under  the  heavy  fire  of 
the  enemy.  During  the  engagement,  Lieutenant  F. 
Gardner  led  the  advance  of  the  7th,  with  ladders  and 
pickaxes  for  the  scaling  parties.  At  one  time,  all  his 
men  at  the  ladders  were  either  killed  or  wounded, 
himself  and  Quartermaster  Sergeant  Henry  alone 
escaping.  Lieutenant  N.  J.  T.  Dana  at  the  same 
time  rendered  valuable  service.  The  7th  infantry  lost 
one  killed  and  eight  wounded.  The  Texans,  well  used 
to  this  mode  of  warfare,  were  picking  off  the  Mexicans 
at  every  chance,  from  behind  the  walls  and  parapets. 
The  batteries  of  Duncan  and  Mackall  did  great  exe- 
cution, and  sustained  a  considerable  loss  in  horses. 
Late  in  the  afternoon,  Major  Brown's  command  was 
ordered  up  from  the  mill;  just  previous  to  which, 
however,  they  had  fallen  in  with  and  driven  back  the 
advance  guard  of  a  large  escort  of  seven  hundred  pack- 
mules,  laden  with  flour,  and  bizcochos,  or  hard  biscuit, 
for  the  besieged  army.  Great  was  the  enemy's  sur- 
prise to  meet  with  the  American  forces  on  the  Saltillo 
road,  and  greater  still  to  see  our  flag  displaying  its 
folds  on  the  captured  heights.  On  entering  the  city, 
the  command  of  Major  Brown  was  soon  under  fire, 
Lieutenant  J.  F.  Irons  doing  good  execution  with  his 
piece  of  artillery.  Towards  night,  Captain  Chapman, 
of  the  5th,  with  his  company,  moved  down  from  the 
height  with  the  captured  gun,  and  crossing  the  river, 
brought  it  over  to  the  Bishop's  Palace. 

"  The  flag  of  the  Spanish  consul,"  says  Mr.  Ken- 
dall, "  flying  in  Morelos  street,  near  the  post-office, 


568  WAR    WITH    MEXICO. 

was  pierced  in  a  hundred  places ;  the  iron  bow-windows 
of  the  houses,  which  projected  but  a  few  inches  into 
the  streets,  were  torn  and  rent  asunder  by  round-shot. 
The  city  had  been  partially  deserted  by  the  inhabitants : 
still  many  women  were  seen  in  the  doorways,  and  in 
the  streets,  and  even  where  the  battle  was  raging, 
freely  offering  our  men  oranges  and  other  fruits. 
Frightened  out  of  their  senses,  they  yet  seemed  im- 
pressed with  the  belief  that  we  were  to  conquer,  and 
thus  attempted  to  propitiate  our  protection  and  good 
will.  Many  ladies,  too,  of  the  better  class — the  wives 
and  daughters  of  civil  functionaries  and  merchants,  as 
well  as  officers  of  the  army — remained  in  their  houses, 
determined  to  abide  the  issue  of  the  siege.  In  one 
room,  in  particular,  into  which  our  men  had  picked 
an  entrance  through  a  wall  of  massive  thickness,  a 
large  number  of  females  were  found.  They  were 
alarmed  to  a  degree  that  was  painful,  filled,  as  their 
ears  had  been,  with  lying  stories  of  the  brutality  of 
the  Americans  of  the  North,  as  our  people  are  called 
by  the  Mexicans,  and  it  was  with  the  greatest  difficulty 
that  they  could  be  assured  of  their  safety." 

We  had  now  gained  the  possession  of  the  city,  on 
the  west  side,  to  within  one  square  of  the  Cathedral 
plaza,  where  the  Mexican  forces  were  concentrated, 
having  also  carried  a  large  building  in  the  Plaza  de 
Carne,  which  overlooked  the  principal  defences  in  the 
city,  on  the  roof  of  which  were  placed,  during  the 
night,  two  howitzers,  for  the  purpose  of  raking  the 
house-tops  on  the  morrow. 

"  It  was  not  until  the  sun  was  down,"  continues 
Mr.  Kendall,  "  and  darkness  had  covered  the  scene, 


STREET-FIGHT    IN    MONTEREY.  569 

that  the  battle  ceased — not  until  it  was  impossible  to 
distinguish  friend  from  foe,  that  the  conflict  in  the 
least  abated.  General  Smith  now  sent  a  communica- 
tion to  General  Worth,  to  the  effect  that  he  could  hold 
all  his  positions  during  the  night,  and  it  was  imme- 
diately determined  upon  to  withdraw  none  of  the 
troops  save  such  of  the  Texans  as  were  with  Hays  on 
the  river  side  of  the  town.  Even  these  would  not 
have  been  called  back  had  not  their  horses  needed  at- 
tention, and  had  not  some  of  them  been  required  for 
picket-guards,  and  other  duty  in  the  rear.  But  al- 
though the  active  conflict  had  ceased,  the  troops  in  the 
city  did  not  rest  from  their  labours.  A  bakery — El 
Panaderia  del  Gallo — which  was  located  immediately 
at  General  Smith's  position,  and  under  fire  of  the 
enemy,  was  set  in  active  operation  by  Lieutenant 
Hanson,  one  of  his  aids,  and  furnished  batch  after 
batch  of  bread  during  the  night  for  the  half-famished 
men." 

Such  is  Mr.  Reid's  account  of  the  Street-Fight. 
General  Taylor,  meanwhile,  had  penetrated  the  city 
on  the  eastern  side ;  and  the  enemy,  finding  themselves 
cooped  up  in  the  grand  plaza,  and  subjected  to  a 
shower  of  shells  from  the  besiegers,  capitulated,  on 
terms  which,  though  questioned  at  the  time,  are  now 
considered  the  best  that  the  circumstances  of  the  case 
permitted.  The  triumph  of  the  American  arms  was 
complete. 

48* 


Santa   Anna. 


THRILLING  SCENES  IN  THE  BATTLE  OF 
BUENA  VISTA. 


N  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista,  where 
Santa  Anna  in  person  commanded 
the  enemy,  many  events  occurred 
of  the  most  thrilling  character. 
To  describe  a  hundredth  part  of 
them  in  detail  would  far  exceed  our 
limits — to  describe  this  memorable  battle  so  as  to  do 


BATTLE    OF    BUENA    VISTA.  571 

justice  to  those   engaged   in   it,  would  fill  a  bulky 
volume.     We  are  compelled,  therefore,  to  limit  our 
selves  to  a  few  sketches. 

In  one  of  those  dark  moments  when  the  fortunes 
of  Buena  Vista   seemed   to   be   going   against   the 
Americans,   M'Kee   and   Clay  were    detached   with 
their  Kentuckians  to  resist  the  onset  of  the  enemy. 
They  sprung  to  the  charge  like  eagles,  marching  over 
the  most  rugged  and  broken  ground  with  the  greatest 
celerity.     They  were  watched   by   General   Taylor 
with  intense  solicitude;  for,  should  they  retreat,  the 
battle  was  lost.    On  they  moved,  until  they  entered 
a  valley  broken  up  by  masses  of  stone   and   deep 
ravines,  and  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  enemy.     All 
at  once  a  strange  commotion  was  observed  in  their 
ranks.     A  hill  concealed  everything  but  their  heads 
from  the  general,  and  these  were  observed  swaying 
hither  and  thither,  and  scattering  as  if  in  flight.     The 
commander  rose  upon  his  horse  and  bent  forward 
with  deep  excitement.     A  flight  became  more  and 
more  evident,  until  he  could  no  longer  repress  his 
emotion.    Turning  to  his  aid,  Mr.  Crittenden,  who 
was    standing    near,    he    exclaimed,   with    startling 
energy :  "  Is  this  conduct  for  Kentuckians  ?"    The 
aid  was  silent,  and  the  general  again  bent  his  anxious 
gaze    upon    the   faithless    regiment.      Suddenly   his 
features  relaxed,  and  a  flush  of  pleasure  swept  over 
his  aged  face — they  had  emerged  from  the  valley  in 
perfect  order,  each  gallant  leader  in  his  place,  and 
pushing  onward  to  the  battle.     Silently  and  steadily 
ttiey  moved  under  the  fire  of  the  enemy,  until  within 
musket-range,  when  one  wide  sheet  of  fire  burst  from 


572  WAR   WITH   MEXICO. 

their  rifles,  and  the  reeling  ranks  of  Mexico  announced 
that  victory  was  once  more  with  the  Americans.  At 
this  sight  the  emotions  of  the  general  were  too 
powerful  to  be  controlled ;  and  tears  of  exulting 
patriotism  coursed  down  his  cheeks. 

But  of  those  brave  men  who  thus  moved  on  to 
danger,  under  the  deep  determination  to  conquer,  how 
many  met  danger  for  the  last  time !  The  storm  of 
that  awful  day  passed  by,  and  its  thunder  was  hushed 
in  the  calmness  of  evening ;  but  in  every  ledge,  and 
by  every  stone,  the  mangled  sons  of  Kentucky  lay 
cold  and  stiff,  in  the  dream  that  knows  no  waking. 
The  young  heart  that  had  that  morning  bounded  with 
patriotism  at  the  sight  of  the  enemy,  was  now  spilling 
its  blood  where  no  friend  would  ever  pause  over  its 
grave.  In  the  last  charge,  man  after  man  fell  before 
the  Mexican  cannon,  until  groups  and  masses  lay 
piled  upon  each  other  over  all  the  field.  Colonel 
M'Kee  fell,  pierced  with  a  mortal  wound,  and  was 
subsequently  hacked  and  mutilated  by  the  bayonets 
of  the  enemy.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Clay  was  wounded 
in  the  leg,  and  sat  down  to  die.  But  his  brave  men 
rushed  from  their  ranks,  and  bore  him  in  their  arms. 
The  enemy  saw  it,  and  poured  on,  yelling  like  fiends. 
Unmindful  of  themselves,  the  sorrowing  soldiers  bore 

*  & 

their  beloved  leader  onward,  until  the  road  became 
so  rugged  that  it  was  impossible  for  two  to  walk 
together.  "  Leave  me,  soldiers,"  exclaimed  the  dying 
youth,  "  and  take  care  of  yourselves."  Still  they  bore 
on,  until  their  burden  lowered  from  their  exhausted 
limbs  j  and,  with  a  gushing  of  deepest  sorrow,  they 
left  him  on  the  field.  The  next  moment  the  Mexicans 


BATTLE    OF   BUENA    VISTA.  573 

were  by  his  side.  But  honour  was  yet  dear  to  him ; 
raising  himself  on  one  arm,  he  wielded  his  sword  with 
a  fury  that  for  a  moment  held  an  army  at  bay.  But 
at  each  motion  the  blood  flowed  faster  from  his 
wound,  until  he  sunk  exhausted.  Then  the  enemy 
approached  him,  and  a  score  of  bayonets  clashed 
together  as  they  crossed  in  his  lacerated  frame. 

Such  was  the  part  taken  by  the  Kentuckians  in 
this  tremendous  battle.  The  Mississippians  were  not 
less  distinguished. 

The  most  trying  scene  for  that  regiment  was 
immediately  after  the  retreat  of  Colonel  Bowles's 
Indianians.  At  that  time  the  battle  was  raging  with 
a  violence  that  shook  earth  and  air  for  miles  around. 
Cannon  pealed  after  cannon,  and  thousands  of  muskets 
and  small  arms  mingled  together  in  one  uninterrupted 
roar,  while  the  neighbouring  mountains  broke  and 
rolled  back  the  heavy  sound  as  it  leaped  from  crag  to 
crag.  Colonel  Davis  was  ordered  to  advance  and 
support  the  Indiana  regiment.  Before  him  were  the 
cavalry,  with  loosened  reins  and  panting  steeds, 
shouting  from  rank  to  rank,  as  they  swept  down  upon 
the  retreating  regiments ;  while  on  either  side,  columns 
of  infantry  were  marching  and  countermarching,  and 
raking  the  field  with  their  rifles.  But,  cool  and 
intrepid,  the  colonel  rode  to  the  front  of  his  regiment 
and  ordered  them  into  line.  They  formed,  and  he 
galloped  by  the  long-extended  ranks,  his  eye  ranging 
along  every  movement,  until  they  had  formed  into 
two  lines,  which  met  in  the  form  of  a  V,  the  opening 
toward  the  enemy.  Nearer  and  nearer  drew  the 
Mexican  steeds,  until  each  rifleman  trembled  with 


574  WAR  WITH   MEXICO. 

excitement  and  impatience.  Colonel  Davis  was  silent 
Now  their  dresses  could  be  distinguished,  and  the 
next  moment  their  faces  and  features.  High  hopes 
and  unbreathed  fears  were  centred  upon  that  little 
volunteer  band,  and  the  stern  eye  of  the  commanding 
general  hung  over  them  with  an  almost  agoirzed 
intensity.  All  around  them  was  clamour,  and  uproar, 
and  the  gushing  of  blood,  and  shrieks  of  mangled 
soldiers.  Colonel  Davis  was  silent.  Would  he  retreat 
like  the  Indianians,  or  permit  the  enemy  to  crush  him 
without  resistance?  Not  long  was  the  suspense. 
Sure  of  victory,  each  Mexican  grasped  his  lance  and 
heaved  forward  for  the  charge,  when  "  Fire !"  rang 
along  the  volunteers;  a  roar  like  thunder  followed, 
and  man  after  man  sunk  down  in  bloody  heaps  to  the 
ground.  Struck  with  dismay,  the  lacerated  columns 
heaved  back,  and  in  mad  confusion  horse  trod  down 
horse,  crushing  wounded  and  dying  beneath  their 
hoofs,  in  the  reckless  rushings  of  retreat.  It  was  a 
horrible  moment ;  and,  when  the  pageant  had  passed 
away,  heaps  of  mutilated  beings  were  stretched  along 
the  ground,  writhing  in  the  extremities  of  agony. 
But  a  moment  before  they  had  been  strong  in  life  and 
hope ;  now  they  were  torn  and  trampled  into  the 
earth,  while  the  blood  was  pouring  from  a  dozen 
wounds,  and  the  heart  hurrying  on  to  its  last  throb. 


American   Fleet  saluting   the   Caetle   after   the  surrender. 


BOMBARDMENT  OF  VERA  CRUZ. 


HE  24th  of  March  was  as  beautiful  a  day 
as  had  ever  shone  in  the  soft  climate  of 
Mexico.  A  previous  norther  had  ren- 
dered the  atmosphere  cool  and  salubri- 
ous ;  and  the  waters  of  the  great  gulf  were  as  smooth 
and  glassy  as  the  surface  of  a  lake.  Toward  even- 
ing the  sun  beamed  with  a  mild  and  softened  glow, 
lighting  up  the  few  fantastic  clouds  with  vivid  colour- 
ings, and  capping  the  gray  distant  mountains  with 
golden  splendour.  But  the  beautiful  prospect  was 
unheeded  by  the  armed  thousands,  who  all  that  day 


576  WAR    WITH    MEXICO. 

had  been  preparing  for  the  terrible  encounter.  Occa- 
sionally a  dull  sound  would  roll  from  the  castle,  and 
echo  amid  the  mountains  like  the  breakings  of  thun- 
der; and  then  a  headlong  plunge  would  mark  the 
falling  of  the  ball ;  but  among  the  Americans  all  was 
silent,  save  the  hum  of  busy  preparation. 

As  the  afternoon  wore  on,  the  excitement  on  board 
the  fleet  became  intense.  Crowds  thronged  the  decks 
and  masts  of  the  different  vessels,  until  every  spar, 
and  every  bow,  and  every  rope  was  dense  with  life, 
each  watching,  with  suppressed  breathing,  the  arrange- 
ments of  General  Scott.  At  four  o'clock,  a  loud  roar 
from  the  beach  told  that  the  thrilling  drama  had 
opened ;  and  in  a  few  minutes  thick  volleys  of  heavy 
shell  were  raining  into  Vera  Cruz,  tearing  and  crush- 
ing their  way  through  roofs,  walls,  and  barricades. 
The  stern  castle  answered  with  her  heavy  guns,  and 
poured  forth  shot  after  shot  in  haughty  defiance,  until 
the  space  between  the  batteries  seemed  like  a  pathway 
of  liquid  fire.  Time  wore  on,  the  sun  reached  the 
western  horizon,  and  his  last  dim  ray  seemed  to 
linger  in  sadness  over  the  furious  maddenings  of  the 
sons  of  earth.  But  the  combatants  knew  no  pause ; 
and  as  the  shades  of  evening  gathered  darker  around, 
they  only  served  to  render  still  more  stirring  the  work 
of  death. 

The  night  bombardment  was  a  scene  grand  even  to 
sublimity.  The  volumes  of  smoke  had  concentrated 
into  one  dense  mass,  which  hung  over  the  Americans 
like  a  cloud.  At  every  moment  its  sides  would  be 
broken,  and  a  fiery  ball  leap  out  with  a  noise  that 
shook  every  surrounding  object,  and  after  sparkling 


BOMBARDMENT  OF  VERA  CRUZ.      579 

along  its  meteor-like  track,  would  light  among  the 
houses  and  battlements  of  the  city.  Then  would 
be  heard  the  loud  explosion,  the  crashing  of  houses, 
and  the  fall  of  walls  and  roofing,  in  the  echoing  streets. 
The  batteries,  forts,  and  mortars  of  both  armies 
vomited  forth  unceasing  discharges  of  fire,  and  the 
balls,  as  they  crossed  and  recrossed  each  other  in  long 
fiery  streams,  along  the  dark  sky-ground,  presented  a 
"  sight  unknown  to  quiet  life."  But  there  were  feeling? 
connected  with  that  scene  more  powerful  than  even  its 
sublimity.  Crowds  of  helpless  individuals  were  con- 
gregated in  the  houses,  trembling  at  the  horrors  from 
which  it  was  impossible  to  escape ;  and  often  a  heavy 
bomb  would  bear  on  through  roof  and  walls,  alight  in 
the  middle  of  a  company,  and  explode,  throwing  arms, 
and  legs,  and  mangled  bodies  against  the  surrounding 
buildings.  Women  and  children,  the  young  and  the 
decrepid,  were  equally  exposed  with  the  soldier  j — no 
place  was  exempt  from  death. 

In  the  morning  a  naval  battery  was  opened  by 
Commodore  Perry,  and  the  bombardment  became 
more  severe  than  ever.  It  was  answered  by  four 
Mexican  batteries,  whose  precision  of  shot  was  the 
theme  of  universal  admiration.  In  the  course  of  this 
day  the  walls  and  fortifications  of  the  city  began  to 
crumble,  and  a  large  part  of  their  buildings  was  in 
ruins.  On  the  27th  the  distress  was  so  great  that 
terms  of  capitulation  were  offered,  and  the  city  finally 
surrendered.  The  scene  within  the  walls  was  dis- 
tressing: churches  and  hospitals  were  crowded  with 
the  wounded  and  dying ;  mangled  corpses  were  lying 
in  the  streets  j  and  along  the  lanes,  and  within  ditches, 


580  WAR   WITH   MEXICO. 

were  mutilated  beings,  stretched  on  dead  comrades, 
half-suffocated  with  dust  and  blood,  and  moaning  for 
water.  The  proud  spirit  of  the  citizens  had  been 
humbled  by  danger  and  suffering ;  and  after  the  cap- 
ture many  could  be  seen  timidly  watching  from  their 
windows  the  march  of  the  American  troops.  In  the 
second  day  of  the  bombardment  many  were  without 
bread  or  meat,  and  reduced  to  a  ration  of  beans, 
eaten  at  midnight  by  the  fire  issuing  from  showers  of 
projectiles.  By  this  time  all  the  buildings  from  La 
Merced  to  the  Parraquia  were  reduced  to  ashes,  and 
the  impassable  streets  filled  with  stones,  ruins,  and 
projectiles.  The  citizens  had  progressively  removed 
to  a  side  where,  up  to  this  time,  less  destruction  had 
happened,  taking  shelter  in  the  streets  and  entries  in 
such  numbers  that  there  was  only  room  to  stand.  But 
the  third  day  the  Americans  alternately  scattered  their 
shot,  and  every  spot  became  a  place  of  danger.  Who 
can  tell  the  amount  of  suffering  experienced  by  the 
desolate  families,  who,  without  hope,  sleep,  or  food, 
were  solely  engaged  in  preserving  their  lives  ?  Most 
of  those  whose  houses  had  been  destroyed  had  lost 
everything — all  the  property  remaining  to  them  was 
the  clothes  on  them;  and  hundreds  of  persons  who 
before  relied  upon  certain  incomes,  now  found  them- 
selves without  a  bed  to  lie  upon,  without  covering  or 
clothing  to  shelter  them,  and  without  any  victuals. 

Such  was  the  bombardment  and  capture  of  Vera 
Cruz,  by  the  American  army.  It  was  a  sight  splendid 
to  the  eye ;  but  to  the  heart  it  told  tales  of  woe,  of 
trial,  and  anguish,  more  deeply  thrilling  than  could  be 
eradicated  by  all  the  false  and  cruel  pomp  of  war. 


BATTLE  OF  CERRO  GORDO. 

IRECTLY  after  the  surrender  of  Vera 
Cruz,  General  Scott  advanced  towards 
the  Mexican  capital.  His  next  grand 
encounter  with  the  enemy  was  at 
Cerro  Gordo,  or  Sierra  Gordo,  where 
Santa  Anna,  with  an  immense  force,  strongly  in- 
trenched, was  prepared  to  oppose  him.  In  the  battle 
which  ensued,  General  Twiggs  bore  a  conspicuous 
part.  An  eye-witness  thus  describes  his  operations : 

On  the  18th  of  April,  1847,  General  Twiggs  was 
ordered  forward  from  the  position  he  had  already  cap- 

49* 


582  WAR   WITH   MEXICO. 

tured,  against  the  fort  which  commanded  the  Cerro. 
Simultaneously  an  attack  on  the  fortifications  on  the 
enemy's  left  was  to  be  made  by  Generals  Shields  and 
Worth's  division,  who  moved  in  separate  columns, 
while  General  Pillow  advanced  against  the  strong 
forts  and  difficult  ascents  on  the  left  of  the  enemy's 
position.  The  enemy,  fully  acquainted  with  General 
Scott's  intended  movement,  had  thrown  large  bodies 
of  men  into  the  various  positions  to  be  attacked. 
The  most  serious  enterprise  was  that  of  Twiggs,  who 
advanced  against  the  main  fort  that  commanded  the 
Cerro.  Nothing  can  be  conceived  more  difficult  than 
this  undertaking.  The  steep  and  rough  character  of 
the  ground,  the  constant  fire  of  the  enemy  in  front, 
and  the  cross  fire  of  the  forts  and  batteries  which 
enfiladed  our  lines,  made  the  duty  assigned  to  General 
Twiggs  one  of  surpassing  difficulty. 

Nothing  prevented  our  men  from  being  utterly 
destroyed  but  the  steepness  of  the  ascent,  under 
which  they  could  shelter.  But  they  sought  no  shelter, 
and  onward  rushed  against  a  hailstorm  of  balls  and 
musket-shot,  led  by  the  gallant  Harney,  whose  noble 
bearing  elicited  the  applause  of  the  whole  army.  His 
conspicuous  and  stalwart  frame  at  the  head  of  his 
brigade,  his  long  arm  waving  his  men  on  to  the 
charge,  his  sturdy  voice  ringing  above  the  clash  of 
arms  and  din  of  conflict,  attracted  the  attention  and 
admiration  alike  of  the  enemy  and  of  our  own  men. 
On,  on,  he  led  the  columns,  whose  front  lines  melted 
before  the  enemy's  fire,  like  snow-flakes  in  a  torrent, 
and  stayed  not  their  course  until  leaping  over  the  rocky 
barriers,  and  bayoneting  their  gunners,  they  drove  the 


BATTLE  OF  CERRO  GORDO.        585 

enemy  pell-mell  from  the  fort,  delivering  a  deadly  fire 
into  their  ranks  from  their  own  guns,  as  they  hastily 
retired.  This  was  truly  a  gallant  deed,  worthy  of  the 
Chevalier  Bayard  of  our  army,  as  the  intrepid  Harney 
is  well  styled.  General  Scott,  between  whom  and 
Colonel  Harney  there  had  existed  some  coolness,  rode 
up  to  the  colonel  after  this  achievement,  and  remarked 
to  him,  "Colonel  Harney,  I  cannot  now  adequately 
express  my  admiration  of  your  gallant  achievement, 
but  at  the  proper  time  I  shall  take  great  pleasure  in 
thanking  you  in  proper  terms."  Harney,  with  the 
modesty  of  true  valour,  claimed  the  praise  as  due  to 
his  officers  and  men.  Thus  did  the  division  of  the 
gallant  veteran,  Twiggs,  carry  the  main  position  of 
the  enemy,  and  occupy  the  front  which  commanded 
the  road.  It  was  here  the  enemy  received  their 
heaviest  loss,  and  their  general,  Vasquez,  was  killed. 
A  little  after,  General  Worth,  having,  by  great  exer- 
tions, passed  the  steep  and  craggy  heights  on  the 
enemy's  left,  summoned  a  strong  fort  in  the  rear  of 
the  Cerro  to  surrender.  This  fort  was  manned  by  a 
large  force  under  General  Pinzon,  a  mulatto  officer  of 
considerable  ability  and  courage,  who,  seeing  the 
Cerro  carried,  thought  prudent  to  surrender,  which  he 
did  with  all  his  force.  General  Shields  was  not  so 
fortunate  in  the  battery  which  he  attacked,  and  which 
was  commanded  by  General  La  Vega.  A  heavy  fire 
was  opened  on  him,  under  which  the  fort  was  carried 
with  some  loss  by  the  gallant  Illinoisians,  under  Baker 
and  Bennett,  supported  by  the  New  Yorkers,  under 
Burnett.  Among  those  who  fell  under  this  fire  was 
the  gallant  general,  who  received  a  grape-shot  through 


586 


WAR  WITH   MEXICO. 


his  lungs,  by  which  he  was  completely  paralyzed,  and 
reduced  to  a  critical  and  dangerous  state.  On  the 
enemy's  right,  General  Pillow  commenced  the  attack 
against  the  strong  forts  near  the  river.  The  Ten- 
nesseans,  under  Haskell,  led  the  column,  and  the  other 
volunteer  regiments  followed.  This  column  unex- 
pectedly encountered  a  heavy  fire  from  a  masked  bat- 
tery, by  which  Haskell's  regiment  was  nearly  cut  to 
pieces,  and  the  other  volunteer  regiments  were  severely 
handled.  General  Pillow  withdrew  his  men,  and  was 
preparing  for  another  attack,  when  the  operations  at 
the  other  points  having  proved  successful,  the  enemy 
concluded  to  surrender.  Thus  the  victory  was  com- 
plete, and  four  generals,  and  about  six  thousand  men, 
were  taken  prisoners  by  our  army.  One  of  their 
principal  generals  and  a  large  number  of  other  officers 
were  killed.  The  Mexican  force  on  this  occasion 
certainly  exceeded  our  own. 


Guerillai  plundering. 


BATTLES  OF  CONTRERAS  AND  CHURUBUSCO. 


iFTER  the  battle  of  Cerro  Gordo, 
General  Scott  remained  for  some 
time  inactive,  in  the  hope  of  re- 
ceiving reinforcements.  His  head- 
quarters were  at  Puebla.  Mean- 
while the  Mexicans,  discouraged  but 
not  disheartened  by  their  late  disasters,  were  col- 
lecting another  army,  and  fortifying  the  different 
entrances  to  the  capital.  When  a  small  number  of 
additional  troops  arrived,  the  American  army  left 
Puebla,  on  the  8th  of  August ;  and,  after  a  fatiguing 
march  in  an  unhealthy  season,  reached  Ayotla  about 


588  WAR    WITH    MEXICO. 

the  12th.  A  reconnoissance  now  took  place  of  the 
rocky  fortification  of  El  Pinon,  which  was  found  to 
be  so  well  defended,  both  by  nature  and  art,  as  to 
render  an  attack  upon  it  eminently  hazardous.  An- 
other road  was  discovered,  south  of  Lake  Charles, 
opening  into  that  from  Vera  Cruz,  below  Ayotla,  and 
the  old  one  abandoned.  The  march  was  a  dreadful 
one.  Heavy  rains  had  filled  the  low  places  with 
water,  through  which  the  troops  were  often  obliged 
to  wade ;  while  in  many  places  steep  and  towering 
heights  were  to  be  crossed,  in  the  paths  and  gorges 
of  which  the  enemy  had  rolled  immense  masses  of 
stone.  The  nights  were  dark,  wet,  and  dreary,  and  a 
damp  and  chilly  rest  succeeded  the  heavy  labours  of  each 
day.  On  the  17th  the  advance  reached  San  Augustin. 
a  village  about  twelve  miles  south  of  the  city,  and 
was  joined  next  day  by  the  second  division.  General 
Worth  advanced  a  division  to  take  possession  of  a 
hacienda  near  the  fortification  of  San  Antonio,  and 
preparatory  to  assaulting  the  latter  place.  The 
village  was  captured ;  but,  in  a  reconnoissance  that 
ensued,  a  heavy  discharge  from  a  Mexican  battery 
killed  Captain  Thornton,  and  wounded  one  or  two 
others.  An  artillery  squadron  and  battalion  of 
infantry  continued  to  hover  round  the  redoubt,  in 
hope  of  making  a  successful  attack  that  afternoon ; 
but,  towards  evening,  a  heavy  rain  ensued,  and 
General  Scott  thought  proper  to  withdraw  them.  All 
night  the  hostile  batteries  frowned  in  gloomy  silence 
upon  this  detachment ;  had  they  opened  with  activity, 
it  might  have  been  forced  to  retire,  or  perhaps  even 
been  cut  to  pieces. 


CONTRERAS  AND  CHURUBUSCO.       589 

During  the  night,  the  divisions  of  Pillow  and 
Twiggs  marched  toward  the  strong  work  of  Con- 
treras,  so  as  to  take  up  a  position  for  an  assault  on 
the  following  morning.  The  fatigue  they  encountered 
was  appalling.  The  country  was  enveloped  in  thick 
darkness,  rain  poured  down  in  streams,  while  the 
wind  tossed  and  whirled  like  the  ground  in  an  earth- 
quake. Now  they  mounted  over  clumps  and  ridges, 
formed  by  rocks  of  lava,  and  entangled  with  dense 
brushwood ;  and  now  plunged  into  some  swollen 
stream,  whose  rushing  waters  destroyed  all  order  of 
march.  Dimly,  in  the  distance,  could  be  observed  the 
flame  of  camp-fires,  struggling  through  the  wind  and 
rain ;  while  the  rumbling  of  heavy  cannon,  the  tramp 
of  horses,  the  clashing  of  guns  and  bayonets,  and  the 
thunderings  of  the  tempest,  rolled  strangely  through 
the  sullen  night. 

At  eight  next  morning,  the  Mexican  batteries 
reopened  upon  the  hacienda  of  San  Antonio,  where 
General  Worth  was  posted.  The  heavy  explosions 
shook  the  air,  while  houses  and  strong  bulwarks  sunk 
in  thundering  masses  beneath  the  showers  of  shot 
and  shells.  The  balls  whistled  through  the  quiet 
lanes,  raking  them  from  end  to  end,  and  tearing  up 
the  ground  in  deep  ridges.  Large  bombs  burst  in  the 
air,  throwing  slugs,  shot,  and  fragments,  among  the 
Americans,  with  terrible  effect.  Yet  these  gallant 
troops,  disdaining  to  yield,  stationed  themselves  be- 
hind walls  and  buildings ;  and,  though  all  around  was 
ruin  and  confusion,  calmly  prepared  for  active  duty. 
Soon  after,  the  divisions  of  Pillow  and  Twiggs  pushed 
toward  Contreras  j  which,  after  a  fatiguing  march, 
50 


590  WAR    WITH   MEXICO. 

they  reached  about  one  o'clock,  P.  M.  General 
P.  F.  Smith  was  then  ordered  to  march  up  in  face  of 
the  enemy's  works,  and  Colonel  Riley  to  move  rapidly 
toward  the  right,  gain  the  main  road,  and  cut  off 
any  Mexican  reinforcement  that  might  present  itself. 
Smith  rushed  forward  amid  a  tremendous  fire,  and 
gained  a  position  for  his  artillery.  Every  gun  on 
both  sides  now  opened;  and  the  terrific  explosions 
shook  the  ground  for  miles  around,  and  rolled  in 
deafening  echoes  along  the  mountain  ridges  of  Mexico. 
But  the  few  guns  of  the  American  advanced  battery 
were  soon  silenced ;  and  General  Pierce  marched  to 
the  relief  of  General  Smith. 

About  this  time,  large  reinforcements  of  the  enemy 
approached  Contreras,  and  General  Cadwalader  pushed 
forward  to  reinforce  Riley.  Again  the  batteries  broke 
forth  in  rapid  discharges,  but  neither  army  yielded  one 
inch  of  ground.  About  four  o'clock,  a  commanding 
figure  swept  along  the  American  line,  while  his 
piercing  eyes  glanced  over  the  field  of  action.  "Gene- 
ral Scott !"  rang  from  rank  to  rank,  and  a  shout,  wild 
and  enthusiastic,  poured  forth  his  welcome.  Perceiving 
the  immense  strength  of  the  Mexicans,  the  commander- 
in-chief  ordered  General  Shields  to  reinforce  Riley 
and  Cadwalader,  and  also  strengthened  the  army  in 
front  of  the  enemy.  The  whole  field  was  now  covered 
with  soldiers,  marching  and  wheeling  in  line.  At 
some  distance  off,  the  Mexican  cavalry  hovered  like  a 
cloud  on  the  movements  of  Cadwalader  and  Riley; 
while  on  the  side  of  General  Smith,  peal  after  peal  of 
heavy  ordnance  told  that  death  was  raging  with  terri- 
ble strides  among  the  ranks  of  the  high-souled  com- 


CONTRERAS  AND  CHURUBUSCO.      591 

batanls.  For  six  hours  the  dreadful  work  continued, 
when  darkness  closed  round  the  armies,  and  the  firing 
grew  less  and  less  rapid,  then  died  away,  and  all  was 
still.  The  disappointed  Americans,  who,  unacquainted 
with  the  enemy's  strength,  had  calculated  on  speedy 
victory,  lay  down  on  the  rugged  ground  without 
blankets,  and  amid  rushing  floods  of  rain  that,  collect- 
ing among  the  ridges,  rushed  and  foamed  like  mountain 
torrents.  About  eight  o'clock,  General  Scott  retired 
to  San  Augustin,  and  was  followed  by  Twiggs  and 
Pillow,  at  eleven. 

Early  the  next  morning,  Generals  Scott  and  Worth 
again  set  out  for  Contreras.  Some  cannonading,  and 
a  rapid  discharge  of  musketry,  was  heard  in  that 
direction,  and,  soon  after,  Captain  Mason  galloped  up 
to  the  commander-in  chief,  with  the  tidings  that  Smith 
had  carried  the  whole  line  of  fortifications  at  Contreras. 
That  enterprising  general  had  planned  and  executed 
the  assault,  and  suffered  comparatively  small  loss. 
He  captured  fifteen  hundred  prisoners,  including 
Generals  Salas,  Blanco,  Garcia,  and  Mendoza,  an  im- 
mense amount  of  ammunition  and  camp  equipage, 
and  fifteen  artillery  pieces ;  among  them,  the  two 
that  had  been  taken  from  Captain  O'Brien  at  Buena 
Vista.  Seven  hundred  of  the  enemy  were  killed,  and 
a  still  larger  number  wounded  ;  while  the  route  of  the 
fugitives  was  strewed  with  muskets  and  other  arms. 

O 

Upon  receiving  this  intelligence,  General  Scott  sent 
General  Worth  to  make  a  demonstration  on  San  An- 
tonio, while  he,  with  a  portion  of  the  army,  should  get 
in  its  rear.  The  troops  composing  the  latter  passed 
by  the  late  battle-field.  Even  the  bold  heart  of  the 


592  WAR    WITH    MEXICO. 

soldier  grew  sick  at  the  shocking  spectacle.  Hundreds, 
that  but  one  day  before  were  active  with  health  and 
ambition,  now  covered  the  bloody  plain,  stiffj  pale, 
and  distorted,  as  death  had  left  them.  Here  and 
there  a  wretch,  writhing  in  agony,  moaned  forth  a 
prayer  for  water ;  while  the  neighbouring  streams  ran 
red  with  human  blood,  and  mangled  heaps  were  piled 
on  each  other  along  their  banks.  On  reaching  San 
Pablo,  another  action  commenced,  and  at  almost  the 
same  instant,  the  roar  of  Worth's  cannon  was  heard 
at  Churubusco.  The  flower  of  the  American  army 
was  now  engaged  with  that  of  Mexico,  and  the  battle 
was  one  of  those  rarely  witnessed  on  the  continent. 
Thousands  of  musketry  rattled  in  uninterrupted  suc- 
cession, while,  now  and  then,  the  deep  cannon  would 
break  in  with  sullen  roar,  that  rolled  trembling  away 
in  the  distance.  On  one  part  of  the  field,  the  com- 
manding form  of  Scott  was  sweeping  from  rank  to 
rank,  animating  and  superintending  his  legions,  heed- 
less of  the  thick  storm  that  was  whizzing  like  hail 
around  him ;  on  another,  the  loud  voices  of  Worth 
and  Twiggs  were  shouting  their  heroes  on  the  stub- 
born foe.  Dark  around  that  scene  hung  dense  columns 
of  smoke,  as  though  hiding  man's  dark  character  from 
the  gaze  of  day. 

In  two  hours,  all  the  works  were  in  possession  of 
the  Americans,  and  the  enemy  in  full  flight  for  the 
city.  General  Worth  pursued  them  almost  to  the 
gates  of  the  capital. 


Paredes. 


STORMING  OF  CHAPULTEPEC. 


HE  three  days  succeeding 
the  attack  on  Molino  del 
Rey,  were  spent  by  the 
American  army  in  recon- 
noitering  the  fortress  of 
Chapultepec,  and  the  neigh- 
bouring stations.  During 
the  night  of  the  llth,  all  the  guns  were  arranged 
around  the  works,  and  preparations  completed  for  a 
renewal  of  the  work  of  death  on  the  following 
morning. 

50*  pp 


594  WAR    WITH   MEXICO. 

Daylight  displayed  the  batteries  of  the  Americans 
frowning  upon  their  enemies,  while  behind  them  were 
arranged  the  fearless  bands  of  Twiggs  and  Worth, 
pale  and  haggard  with  marches,  night-watches,  and  a 
month's  fighting.  Yet  the  eyes  of  those  iron  men 
flashed  sternly  as  they  gazed  on  the  work  before  them. 
Thousands  of  bayonets  glittered  along  the  ramparts 
of  Chapultepec,  interrupted  at  short  intervals  by  heavy 
cannon.  Hearts  were  bounding  as  they  never  had 
before — for  soon  was  to  be  decided  whether  Mexico 
should  fall,  or  the  enemy  drive  back  their  hitherto 
triumphant  invaders,  and  reap  vengeance  for  her 
bleeding  armies. 

The  action  commenced,  and  soon  all  other  feelings 
were  swallowed  up  in  the  wild  tumult  of  battle.  All 
day  long  those  iron  engines  hurled  forth  their  plunging 
volleys,  and  iron  sleet  rained  in  crashing  showers  amid 
ranks  that  in  a  few  moments  dwindled  to  skeletons. 
Leaping  and  rattling  over  the  stony  cliffs,  the  balls 
mowed  down  trees  and  shrubs,  and  filled  the  air  with 
leaves  and  dust.  Then  through  the  clouds  of  dark- 
ness the  batteries  would  open,  and  whole  platoons 
sink  before  them.  The  sun  grew  hotter  and  hotter, 
pouring  down  his  unshaded  rays  upon  the  maddening 
combatants;  yet,  hour  after  hour,  amid  shrieks  of 
horror,  sights  of  death,  without  intermission,  without 
rest,  they  continued  the  dreadful  work.  Rows  of 
buildings  within  the  fortress  crumbled  to  atoms  before 
the  incessant  discharges ;  and  brave  men,  who  had 
vainly  toiled  for  their  country  at  Cerro  Gordo,  Con- 
treras,  and  Churubusco,  were  now  thrown  lifeless  into 


STORMING  OF  CHAPULTEPEC.       597 

the  ditches  by  those  whom  battle  had  made  insensible. 
Night  at  length  put  an  end  to  the  assault. 

But,  terrible  as  was  this  action,  it  was  but  slight 
compared  to  the  assault  of  the  following  day.  Aware 
of  the  duties  to  be  performed,  General  Scott  selected 
for  this  service  the  veteran  divisions  of  Pillow  and 
Twiggs —  those  who  had  triumphed  in  so  many 
battles.  The  march  was  through  dark  woods,  over 
ravines  and  rocks,  and  up  slippery  cliffs,  all  of  which 
were  guarded  by  the  enemy.  Yet,  led  on  by  their 
fearless  commanders,  the  troops  forgot  all  labour; 
drove  one  party  after  another  with  the  bayonet ;  and, 
turning  a  clump  of  woods,  came  in  sight  of  the 
fortress.  The  Mexicans  had  recruited  their  ranks, 
and  made  every  preparation  for  a  desperate  and 
decisive  struggle. 

Soon  the  artillery  on  both  sides  opened ;  and,  amid 
the  horrors  of  a  bombardment,  the  storming  parties 
wrere  organized,  and  began  their  march.  The  enemy 
perceived  their  design  ;  and,  ceasing  the  irregular 
cannonade,  pointed  all  their  guns  at  the  advancing 
troops.  For  a  while  the  nature  of  the  ground 
defended  them ;  but,  as  they  came  nearer,  heavy 
balls  came  plunging  in  their  midst,  sweeping  down 
entire  columns.  Then  there  would  be  a  pause, 
succeeded  by  the  shouts  of  command,  and  the 
hurried  tread  of  the  soldiers  re-forming.  The  next 
moment,  on  they  again  pushed,  shoulder  to  shoulder, 
facing  the  fiery  batteries  with  the  calmness  of  true 
courage.  Every  rock,  every  crag,  every  tree  they 
passed,  was  stained  with  the  life-blood  of  their  com- 
rades ;  and  behind  them,  unheard,  unnoticed,  rose  up 


598  WAR   WITH   MEXICO. 

a  groan  of  agony,  from  the  long  black  pile  of  dead 
and  wounded  that  marked  their  course.  At  length 
the  slaughter  was  so  dreadful,  that  even  the  heroes 
of  Cimrubusco  paused — a  moment  of  strange  feeling 
followed ;  and,  as  each  man  looked  upon  the  shattered 
ranks,  and  then  gazed  round  for  his  companions,  a 
sickening,  fearful  anxiety,  rose  in  his  countenance. 
But  their  generals  dashed  along  their  front,  and  amid 
showers  of  death  restored  the  line  of  battle.  One 
wild  shout  arose ;  doubt  was  flung  to  the  wind  j  and 
that  little  band  bent  forward  over  their  bayonets,  and 
swept  along. 

The  Mexicans  fought  under  the  eye  of  General 
Bravo.  His  noble  bearing  held  them  to  duty,  and 
made  them  act  as  Mexicans  rarely  can.  In  the 
thickest  of  the  action,  among  the  living  and  the  dead, 
he  wrestled  with  fate,  and  for  a  long  while  held 
the  balance  of  victory  in  his  grasp.  But,  awed  by 
recent  defeat,  his  troops  began  at  length  to  falter. 
Disorder  followed,  and  many  fled  ingloriously  from 
their  ranks.  The  exertions  of  their  leader  were  in 
vain ;  his  threats  and  exhortations  only  augmented  the 
panic ;  and,  though  the  Americans  rushed  on  in  the 
very  mouth  of  the  batteries,  the  dismay  of  the 
Mexicans  would  not  permit  them  to  take  advantage 
of  it.  And  when  they  saw  their  daring  antagonists 
within  a  few  yards  of  the  works,  disorder  and  wild 
uproar  ensued. 

The  shouts  of  the  assailants  now  arose  over  the 
noise  of  battle.  A  soldier  leaped  in  front  of  his  com- 
panions, while  the  stars  and  stripes  danced  in  his  hand, 
and,  seconded  by  a  few  others,  planted  some  ladders 


STORMING    OF    CHAPULTEPEC.  599 

against  the  outer  works,  and  rushed  over  the  walls. 
A  moment  after,  the  whole  parapet  gleamed  with 
bayonets.  Thousands  of  the  enemy  fled  ignobly ;  but 
their  general,  flinging  himself  before  his  opponents, 
rallied  a  little  band  around  him,  and  fought  with  the 
energy  of  despair.  There  was  a  short  period  of 
lightning-like  actions,  silent  and  terrible.  This  termi- 
nated, and  loud  and  long-continued  shouts  told  that 
the  last  hope  of  Mexico  was  extinguished — that  Cha- 
pultepec  had  fallen. 

A  great  number  of  prisoners,  including  General 
Bravo,  was  taken.  The  interior  of  the  fort  presented 
a  melancholy  spectacle.  A  great  quantity  of  the 
works  was  a  mass  of  ruins,  among  which  the  dead 
and  dying  were  strewed  in  all  directions.  The  large 
building  occupied  as  a  military  school,  was  completely 
riddled ;  while  the  well-selected  and  valuable  library, 
together  with  furniture  and  ornaments,  was  in  utter 
confusion. 

During  the  assault,  General  Quitman  had  attacked 
the  enemy  on  the  south  and  west,  where  they  had 
posted  themselves  by  the  aqueduct,  and  thrown  de- 
fences across  the  road.  After  carrying  all  these 
works,  and  leaving  a  small  garrison  in  Chapultepec, 
the  army  marched  toward  the  capital,  General  Quit- 
man moving  by  the  Tacubaya  road,  and  General 
Worth  by  the  San  Cosme.  The  Mexicans  resisted  at 
every  step,  having  erected  works  across  the  road  at 
different  places,  from  which  they  harassed  every  part 
of  the  American  columns.  One  station  after  another 
was  carried,  until  at  night  the  enemy  had  been  driven 
within  the  gates  of  Mexico.  On  arriving  at  the 


600 


WAR    WITH    MEXICO. 


Tacubaya  gate,  Quitman  came  in  range  of  the  citadel, 
from  which  a  shower  of  iron  hail  was  incessantly 
poured  upon  his  ranks.  The  struggle  at  this  place 
was  tremendous,  and  ended  only  with  the  close  of  day, 
At  night  the  authorities  surrendered  the  city,  which 
was  entered  next  day  by  the  entire  army. 


AMERICAN   BOOKS  IN   ENGLAND. 


TUB  following  letter  is  from  the  REV.  THOMAS 
TIMPSOS,  an  able  and  pious  minister  in  London, 
the  author  of  many  valuable  theological  and  other 
works  ;  and  a  person  who  has  distinguished  him- 
self as  the  originator  of  various  benevolent  move- 
ments in  that  great  city.  It  breathes  a  spirit  of 
peace  and  good-will  toward  America,  creditable 
alike  to  the  head  and  the  heart  of  the  writer.  To 
such  sentiments  we  heartily  respond,  and  hope  the 
peace  and  intercourse  now  existing  between  Eng- 
land and  America,  may  long  be  preserved  inviola- 
ble.— Ed.  American  Saturday  Courier. 

"  LONDON  (ENG.)  March  22, 1847. 
"  MR.  ROBERT  SEARS  : 

"  My  Dear  Sir :  I  am  constrained  by  a  sense  of 
obligation,  to  testify  to  you  on  the  part  of  myself,  my 
sona.  and  my  daughters,  the  inexpressible  gratification 
that  we  feel  in  the  possession  of  the  sixteen  volumes 
of  your  beautiful  works  which  now  adorn  my  library 
with  their  elegant  bindings.  I  look  at  them  with  as- 
tonishment, as  I  reflect  on  their  having  been  the  pro- 
duction of  one  individual ;  comprehending,  as  they  do, 
so  large  a  variety  of  the  most  important  subjects,  and 
compiled,  as  their  valuable  contents  show,  from  a  vast 
number  of  the  best  publications,  and  by  a  gentleman 
otherwise  engaged  in  an  extensive  business !  Having 
been  honored  with  the  commission  to  offer  a  set  of  them 
to  Victoria,  queen  of  Great  Britain — and  which  she 
has  graciously  accepted — I  examined  these  volumes 
more  particularly;  and  I  feel  admiration  of  their  ex- 
cellent and  useful  information,  their  pure  and  Christian 
morality,  and  their  truly  scriptural  theology.  I  may 
most  justly  apply  to  you,  what  a  reverend  doctor  of 
America  once  said  to  me,  after  examination  of  my 
rather  numerous  publications — '  I  have  not  observed 
a  line  of  all  your  writings,  which  you  may  wish  to 
blot  out  when  you  come  to  die.'  I  considered  that  a 
very  high  compliment  from  such  a  judge. 

"  By  your  publications,  you  have  made  all  classes 
through  the  whole  community  in  the  United  States 
very  greatly  your  debtors.  This  they  are  in  some 
good  measure  acknowledging,  as  1  perceive,  by  the 
larpre  and  increasing  demand  for  your  valuable  works ; 
but  the  man  who  has  placed  in  tiieir  hands  illustrated 
pictorial  volumes,  relating  to  such  a  variety  of  that 
which  is  wonderful  in  'nature,  art,  and  mind  ;'  so  much 
that  is  instructive  in  biography  aud  history  ;  and  what 
is  most  divinely  consoling  in  religion  and  the  oracles 
of  God — in  forms  well  adapted  to  promote  the  edifica- 
tion of  all  classes,  especially  those  in  the  peculiar  con- 
dition of  the  millions  so  widely  scattered,  as  the  people 
of  your  vastly -extended  Union,  can  not  easily  be  re- 
munerated for  the  requisite  expenditure  of  mental  and 
physical  labor,  with  the  large  amount  of  property  em- 
ployed in  producing  these  works. 

"'  The  Pictorial  Family  Instructor,'  the  '  Wonders 
of  the  World.'  the  '  History  of  the  American  Revolu- 
tion,' and  '  Information  for  the  People,'  must  be  inval- 
uable treasures  to  the  rising  members  of  thousands  of 
families  throughout  America  ;  especially  because  of  the 
necessarily  limited  sphere  of  observation  on  men  and 
manners  existing  in  the  '  Old  World  ;'  while  the  '  De- 
scription of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,'  will  afford 
them  the  most  ennobling  ideas  concerning  the  people, 
the  riches,  and  glory  of  their  '  fatherland"  and  the 
'  mother-country.'  For  this  good  service  we  are  in 
debled  to  you  as  Britons. 

"  Your'  Bible  Biosrrnphy,'  'Pictorial  Sunday  Book,' 
ani'  History  of  the  Bible,' can  not  fail  to  be  highly  prized 
by  those  of  a  more  religious  or  established  Christian 
character ;  on  account  of  the  precious  stores  of  pure 


divinity  which  they  contain,  and  the  com entration  o 
the  rays  of  heavenly  light,  which  they  tlirow  upon  tb 
Scriptures.  You  can  not  wonder  that  1  rejoice  to  se. 
my  name  and  labors  so  prominently  placed  in  one  o 
your  volumes,  with  my  '  Thirty  Dissertations'  on  tl>< 
Scriptures,  from  my  '  Key  to  the  Bible,'  in  your '  Bib!' 
Biography.' 

"  It  is  natural  for  you  to  wish  my  judgment — as  tha 
of  an  Englishman,  more  particularly — upon  your  '  De 
scription  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland.'  Regarding 
this  work  especially,  as  I  am  acquainted  with  mos< 
parts  of  this  country,  I  beg  to  assure  you  that  it  doet 
very  great  credit  to  your  talents,  research,  nnd  industry; 
the  information,  I  perceive,  is  derived  from  the  best 
sources,  and  the  pictorial  representations  are  good — 
many  of  them  equal  to  those  of  the  same  kind  pub 
lished  in  England.  You  have  done  wisely  by  giving 
so  extended  an  account  of  London,  our  wonderful 
metropolis:  for,  though  Edinburgh  and  Dublin  are 
truly  splendid  cities,  as  the  ancient  capitals  of  the  king 
doms  of  Scotland  and  Ireland  ;  and,  while  Binning 
ham,  Bristol,  Leeds,  Sheffield,  Manchester,  Liverpool, 
and  Glasgow,  are  really  magnificent  as  provincial  bor- 
oughs, great  manufacturing  centres,  and  emporiums 
of  trade — London,  with  its  sister-city  of  Westminster, 
is  the  seat  and  source  of  intelligence,  commerce, 
wealth,  legislation,  and  government  of  the  vast  British 
empire.  The  palaces  of  the  sovereign  and  the  maa- 
sions  of  the  nobility  are  grand.  No  language  or  pic- 
torial description  can,  however,  adequately  represent 
our  mighty  metropolis  to  a  stranger ;  yourself,  on  a 
personal  survey,  will  be  like  the  queen  of  Sheba  in  her 
visit  to  King  Solomon  and  Jerusalem. 

"  One  word  as  to  the  spirit  of  your  writings.  I  ad- 
mire exceedingly  the  benevolence,  liberality,  and  en- 
larged philanthropy,  which  they  all  breathe ;  indio"<'v>g 
the  autlior  to  be  in  the  best  sense.  'A  CITIZEN  OF  THE 
WORLD.'  I  cordially  delight  in  the  unsectarian  Chris- 
tian spirit  which  pervades  those  that  are  religious  this 
is  worthy  your  profession  as  a  follower  of  the  world's 
Redeemer,  and  as  to  your  work  on  '  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland,'  I  tender  you  my  warmest  thanks  for  the 
noble  sentiments  it  expresses.  I  can  not  look  upon  the 
Americans  but  as  our  own  brethren.  As  an  English- 
man, I  feel  the  full  force  of  the  significant  expression 
uttered  by  some  of  our  profound  worldly  politicians — 
•ENGLAND  AND  AMERICA  against  ALL  THE  WOULD  !' 
but  as  a  minister  of  the  blessed  '  PRINCE  OF  PEACF.,' 
the  Redeemer  of  all  nations,  I  would  rather  say,  what 
in  my  judgment  your  work  is  happily  designed  and 
adapted  to  promote,  and  the  whole  body  of  British 
Christians  would  joyfully  echo  my  words — '  ENGLAND 
AND  AMERICA  for  ALL  THE  WORLD  !'  May  we  con- 
tinue increasingly  to  co-operate,  by  the  Bible,  Mis- 
sions, and  Commerce,  in  promoting  the  intelligence, 
liberty,  and  happiness  of  every  people ! 

"  I  am  convinced  that  the  two  countries  are  deeply 
interested  in  the  prosperity  of  each  other.  Our  peo- 
ple are  one  in  blood,  one  in  language,  one  in  science 
and  art,  and  one  in  religion.  Ourselves  mutually  uni- 
ted in  the  bonds  of  peace  and  friendly  intercourse,  both 
must  prosper,  and  essentially  serve  each  other ;  and.  in- 
creasing in  population,  by  our  moral  influence,  our  in- 
telligence, religion,  liberty,  and  commerce — ;ill  im- 
proved and  perfected — we  may  be  the  means  of  re- 
moving the  ten  thousand  evils  of  despotism,  supersti- 
tion, and  false  religion,  which  afflict  the  great  nations 
of  Europe.  Asia,  Africa,  and  many  parts  of  America, 
and  of  regenerating  the  world,  under  the  gracious 
providence  of  God. 

"Wishing  you  success  in  your  various  noble,  ben- 
evolent, and  Christian  enterprises,  and  that  your  life 
and  health  may  long  be  preserved,  to  enjoy  the  fruits 
of  your  labors  on  earth,  I  remain,  yours,  in  Christian 
eeteem, 

"  THOMAS  TIMPSON." 


PRESENTATION  OF  MR,  SEARS'  PICTORIAL  WORKS, 

TO   HER   MAJESTY  QUEEN  VICTORIA. 

(See  Engraving.) 

BUCKINGHAM  PALACE,  May  17,  1847. 
MR.  ROBERT  SEARS  — 

Sir  :  Some  short  time  since,  several  important  and  interesting  works,  com- 
piled and  published  by  you,  were  presented,  in  your  name,  for  the  Queen's 
acceptance,  through  the  Rev.  Mr.  Timpson.  An  official  acknowledgment  of  the 
receipt  and  acceptance  of  these  volumes  was  conveyed  to  Mr.  Timpson  from  Sir 
George  Grey,  the  Secretary  for  the  Home  Department :  but  I  have,  since  that 
period,  been  honored  with  the  Queen's  commands  to  convey  to  you  the  expres- 
sion of  Her  Majesty's  thanks  for  your  attention  in  forwarding  these  works  for  her 
acceptance,  and  her  satisfaction  at  the  kind  sentiments  expressed,  by  your  desire, 
in  Mr.  Timpson's  letter  which  accompanied  them. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  very  ob't  serv't, 

J.  H.  GLOVER, 
Librarian  to  Her  Majesty. 


From  the  New  York  Sun,  Dec.  29, 1846. 

AMERICAN  PUBLICATIONS  FOR  QUEEN  VICTORIA. 
Evidences  of  American  progress  in  literature,  science, 
and  art,  are  constantly  presenting  themselves.  Our 
latest  efforts  are  startling  to  the  "mother-country,"  who 
now  begins  to  find  a  sturdy  competitor,  if  not  an  equal, 
in  her  promising  daughter.  These  legitimate  branches 
of  competition  are  eminently  calculated  to  strengthen 
the  bonds  of  friendship,  and  perpetuate  the  blessings 
of  those  amicable  relations  at  present  existing  between 
the  two  nations.  These  reflections  were  suggested  by 
a  pleasing  incident  which  came  to  our  knowledge 
yesterday.  Our  readers  are  probably  all  acquainted 
with  the  series  of  excellent  family  books  issued  by 
Mr.  Robert  Sears,  of  this  city,  and  we  presume  there 
are  few  who  are  not  acquainted  with  the  principal  in- 
cidents in  Mr.  Sears'  own  life — his  beginning  in  Ihis 
city  as  a  poor  journeyman,  and  the  subsequent  achieve- 
ments which  he  accomplished  by  perseverance,  moral- 
ity, honest  labor,  and  a  liberal  patronage  of  the  popu- 
lar advertising  newspapers.  The  reputation  of  his 
books  having  extended  to  England,  and  being  con- 
sidered there  equal  to  many  of  their  own  best  publica- 
tions, he  received  an  intimation  from  an  eminent  di- 
vine, the  Kev.  Thomas  Timpson,  of  London,  and 
others,  that  a  complete  set  of  them  would  be  an  ap- 
propriate present  to  her  Majesty.  Accordingly,  Mr. 
Sears  sends  out,  by  the  steamer  of  the  1st  January, 
the  "  Pictorial  Illustrations  of  the  Bible,"  the  "  Bible 
Biography,"  the  "  Pictorial  Wonders  of  the  World," 
the  "  Pictorial  Family  Library,"  the  "  Pictorial  Histo- 
ry of  the  American  Revolution,"  the  "Pictorial  His- 
tory of  the  Bible,"  the  "  Guide  to  Knowledge,"  the 
"  Pictorial  Sunday  Book,"  the  "  Pictorial  Description 
of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,"  and  "  Information  for 
the  People,"  being  thirteen  magnificent  volumes  in  all. 
They  are  superbly  bound  in  morocco,  and  ornamented 
with  beautiful  designs  in  gilt.  The  following  presen- 
tation is  written  inside  of  each : — 

Presented  to  her  Most  Gracious  Majesty, 


Queen  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland, 
With  the  utmost  .espect,  by  the  Compiler  and  Publisher, 

ROBERT  SEARS, 
New  York  (U.  S  A.),  January  1, 1847. 


MR.  SEARS'  PRESENT  TO  THE  QUEEN.— Our  read- 
ers, says  the  New  York  Sun,  will  recollect  that  a 
few  months  since  we  alluded  to  the  gratifying  fact  that 
Mr.  Robert  Sears,  of  this  city,  had  forwarded  a  com- 
plete set  of  all  his  interesting  pictorial  publications  to 
the  Queen  of  England.  The  following  article  re- 
specting their  safe  arrival  and  presentation  may  prove 
interesting  to  our  readers.  It  is  copied  from  the  Lon- 
don Patriot,  of  Feb.  23,  1847  :— 

"AMERICAN  PRESENT  TO  THE  QUEEN. — Mtny  in 
this  country  will  be  interested  in  learning,  that  a  p'rea- 
ent  of  books  from  America,  has  recently  been  marie 
to  our  Gracious  Queen,  by  an  eminent  publisher  in 
New  York.  These  works  are,  *  The  History  of  the 
Bible,'  'Description  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland," 
|  Information  for  the  People,'  <5cc.  They  are  profusely 
illustrated  with  fine  engravings  on  wood,  printed  in 
imperial  octavo,  sumptuously  bound  in  Turkey  moroc- 
co, and  very  elegantly  gilded,  exhibiting  admirable 
specimens  of  the  progress  that  ia  being  made  in  typo- 
graphical and  artistical  skill  in  the  United  States. 
The  present  was  sent  from  America  to  the  care  of  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Timpson,  by  whom  it  was  forwarded 
to  the  Right  Hon.  Sir  George  Grey,  Bart.,  the  Home 
Secretary,  for  presentation  to  the  Queen.  Sir  George, 
in  a  polite  letter,  has  assured  Mr.  Timpson  that  he  has 
complied  with  his  request,  and  that  her  Majesty  had 
graciously  accepted  the  volumes.  Reflecting  on  this 
gratifying  fact,  and  remembering  that  the  vast  repub- 
lic of  the  New  World  possesses  our  language,  laws, 
literature,  and  religion,  and  our  blood  flowing  in  tbeir 
veins,  every  true  patriot  and  Christian  must  feel  de- 
lighted, and  pray  that  a  perfect  cordiality  and  ever- 
lasting peace  may  be  enjoyed  between  the  two  great 
nations,  that  this  enterprise  may  be  mutually  benefi- 
cial, and  the  means  of  universal  good  to  all  the  nations 
upon  earth,  especially  in  diffusing  the  Gospel." 

Ir  half  the  pains  now  taken  by  interested  politicians  on 
both  sides  of  the  ocean,  to  rend  asunder,  derange,  and 
disunite,  were  used  to  calm,  pacify,  soothe  and  unite 


mankind,  in  a  snort  period  our  world  woult 
paradise,  a  garden  of  love,  riches,  honor,  and 
fact  ererything  noble,  good,  or  great.  Peace  and  Good 
Will  would  not  only  form  a  part  of  the  religion  of  the 
Christian  world,  but  would  constitute  true  religion  itself. 
All  that  is  wanting  in  order  to  accomplish  this  great  end 
U.  for  each  one  to  feel  that  vie  art  all  one  family :  and  to 
allow  no  separate  or  sectional  party,  thought,  or  word,  to 
go  forth,  either  printed,  written,  or  spoken. 


AGENTS   WANTED. 


TO  ALL  PKHSONS  INTERESTED  IN 
the  diffusion  of  Useful  Knmvlo.lLT.  Valuable  Books 
for  I'ul. lie.  Private,  and  District  Pch,,r|  Lil>i-nnVf« 
SEARS'  PICTORIAL  FAMILY  LIBRARY. 
TWELVE  Voi.vmK*.t*rpracfriro  xnb^nntinlii/  /»»«,/ 
in  leather.  Embellished  with  more  ihnn  Two  THOU- 
SAND ENOKAVIMJS,  designed  and  r.rrmli-d  by  the 
most  Eminent  Arti*ls  of  England  mid  America. 

The  entire  series  of  Mr.  Sears'  Pictorial  Works  has 
been  examined,  nnd  stronsrly  rccommrnded  to  Super- 
intendent?, Trustees,  and  Teachers  of  Schools,  by  the 
following  distinguished  gentlemen:  His  Kxcellency 
HAMU.TON  FISH,  Governor  of  the  State  of  New  York; 
Hon.  CHRISTOPHKU  MORGAN,  Secretary  of  State,  and 
Superintendent  of  Common  Schools.  N.  Y. ;  T.  Ro- 
MKYN  BKCK.  M.  D.,  Secretary  of  the  Resents  of  the 
University,  N  Y. ;  tlie  LKGISI.ATIVK  C<>MMITTII  on 
Colleges,  Academies,  nnd  Common  Schools;  Rev.  En- 
WARO  HITCHCOCK,  LL.  D.,  President  of  Amherst 
College,  nnd  Professor  of  Geolo.sy,  Massachusetts. 
From  his  Excellency  HAMILTON  Fisn,  Governor 
of  the  State  of  New  York. 

ALBANY,  April  10,1849. 
Mr.  ROBERT  SEARS  : — 

Dear  Sir:  I  have  not  had  time,  amid  other  engage- 

^f  P;  t    -i  ixr    i,  ments,  for  a  very  thorough  examination  of  the  series 

of  Pictorial  Works  which  you  have  been  so  kind  as  to  send  me.     I  have  however,  examined  them  suffi- 
ciently to  justify  me  in  laying,  that  they  are  compiled  with  care,  and  are  highly  interesting  and  useful  Family 
Boohs,  pure  in  their  moral  tendency,  and  replete  with  valuable  information.     They  are  pan,?,  hooks  and  wor- 
thy ot  a  place  in  our  District  School  Libraries.  HAMILTON  FISH 
From  the  Hon.  CHRISTOPHER  MORGAN,  Secretary  of  Stale,  and  Superintendent  of  Common  Schools 

STATE  OF  NEW  YORK,  Secretary's  Office. 

...    ._  Department  nf  Common  Schnoit,  ALBANY,  April  10  1849. 

Mr.  KOBBRT  SEARS,— Sir:  I  have  examined  your  series  of  Pictorial  Workx;  I  find  them  to  contain  a  lanre 
amount  ol  valuable  information,  and  take  pleasure  in  cheerfully  recommending  them  as  suitable  Books  to  be 
introduced  into  the  Common  and  District  School  Libraries  of  this  State. 

CHRISTOPHER  MORGAN. 

Recommendation  of  Hon.  ROBERT  H.  PRUTN,  GABRIEL  P.  DISOSWAY,  JAMES  D.  BUTTON,  JAMES 
W.  BEEKMAN,  and  ALONZO  JOHNSON,  Committee  on  Colleges,  Academies,  and  Common  Schools. 

N*W  YOHK  LEGISLATUHE.  April,  5,  1849. 

We  have  examined  the  PICTORIAL  WORKS*  edited  and  published  by  Mr.  ROBKRT  SEARS  128 
Nassau  street,  New  York,  prepared  for  DISTRICT  SCHOOL  LIBRARIES,  and  are  of  the  opinion  that 
they  deserve  a  place  in  these  institutions—  designed  as  they  are  for  the  diffusion  of  Useful  Knowledge 

IB  work!  alluded  to,  as  havine  been  examined  and  recommended  for  the  libraries,  are  as  follows-  "A  New  and 

Popular  De*erlprton  of  the  Unued  States."-"  Pictorial  History  of  the  American  Revo!mion.»-"Scenes  and  Sketches  of 

"  I nflrm  ,E"Te'  ,7   "'^"P"0"  «£««»•  Britain  andlreland."-"  Pictorial  Family  Annual."-"  Treasury  of  Knowledge  » 

-"Information  for   the  People."-"  The  Kannly  Instructor."— "Pictorial  Sunday-Book."-"  Bible   Biography  "-"  Bible 

History."— becond  Series  of  the  "Wonders  of  the  World." 

ROBERT  H.  PRUYN,  Chairman,        JAMES  W.  BEEKMAN 
GABRIEL  P.  DISOSWAY,  ALONZO  JOHNSON. 

JAMES  D.  BUTTON, 
From  T.  ROXEYN  BECK,  M.  D.,  Secretary  oftJie  Regents  of  the  University,  New  York. 

Office  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Resents  of  the  University,  ) 
ALBANY,  March  12,  1849.      C 

SEARS,— bir:  I  have  given  as  much  time  as  possible  to  an  examination  of  vour  Pirtorial 
n  orkt..     They  are  all  interesting  :  compiled  evidently  with  much  care,  and  profusely  illustrated  with  En<ra- 
I  can  not  imagine  more  useful  books  to  be  introduced  to  Families,  and  particularly  to  our  District 
actool  Libraries  and  Academies.      You  appear  to  have  followed  in  the  track  of  the  "  Library  of  Useful 
wtedge,"  and  the  publications  of  William  and  Robert  Chambers,  and  will,  I  doubt  not,  be  rewarded  with 
a  portion  of  the  popularity  that  has  followed  them  in  Great  Britain.     It  is  not,  by  any  means,  the  least  of  the 
pcomniendations  of  your  Books,  that  their  morality  is  pure,  and  that  they  contain  few  lines  which,  on  mature 
reflection,  you  would  need  to  blot.  T.  ROMEYN  BECK 

From  Rev.  EDWARD  HITCHCOCK,  LL.  D.,  President  of  Amherst  College,  and  Professor  of 

Geology,  Massachusetts. 

AMHERST  COLLEGE,  Dec.  25,  1848. 

r  SEARS,— Dear  Sir:  I  have  looked  over  the  entire  series  of  your  valuable  Publications  with 
st  and  profit ;  nnd  am  quite  surprised  at  the  amount  of  literary  labor  yon  have  performed,  and  the 
it  must  nave  cost  yon  to  obtain  so  many  fine  illustrations,  while  you  have  an  active  superintendence 
rtensive  business.     I  am  also  gratified  nt  the  decidedly  moral  and  religious  influence  which  your  books 
;ert,  and  can  not  but  hope  that  they  will  do  much  to  counteract  the  effects  of  that  light  and  immoral 
•ature  which  deluges  the  land,  and  like  the  frogs  of  Egypt  comes  up  even  into  the  kneading-tronehs  of  om- 
ens.    May  you  live  long  to  follow  out  and  perfect  your  plans.  EDWARD  HITCHCOCK. 

£^*  A?.EItTS  WANTED  in  every  section  of  the  Union  to  sell  the  above  works.  To  men  of  enterprise 
and  tact  tins  otters  an  opportunity  for  useful,  pleasant,  and  profitable  employment.  A  cash  capital  of  at  least 

2o  or  S;>0  will  be  necessary.  Full  particular*  will  be  given  on  application,  either  personally  or  by  letter. 
Postage  must  in  all  cases  be  paid.  Please  address  ROBERT  SEARS,  128  NASSAU  STREET,  NEW  YORK, 


BOSTON      PUBLICATION. 


CHRISTIAN    LITURGY. 

538  PAGES,  ELEGANTLY  BOUND  IN  EMBOSSED  MOROCCO,  GILT  EDGES-81.50. 


SOLD   AT    128   NASSAU   STREET,   NEW  YORK, 

AND    AT    THE    PRINCIPAL     BOOKSTORES    THROUGHOUT    THE    UNION. 


THE  Liturgy  of  the  Church  of  America,  now  offered  to  the  public,  is  drawn 
from  various  religious  writings,  and  breathes  the  spirit  of  the  Bible. 

The  forms  of  Adoration  and  Petition,  and  its  summary  of  Christian  faith  and 
Christian  doctrine,  are  intelligible  and  plain.  Its  Catechism  is  pure,  and  beauti- 
fully adapted  to  the  comprehension  of  young  minds — enlightening  without  con- 
fusing them,  and  preparing  the  way  for  holy  thoughts  and  true  religion. 

The  work  throughout  is  well  arranged,  and  of  a  character  to  demand  the  close 
examination  of  new  congregations  of  faithful  men  proposing  to  unite  and  form 
themselves  into  a  visible  church  of  Christ. 

The  religious  feeling  which  pervades  the  Liturgy  of  the  Church  of  America, 
and  its  freedom  from — what  is  too  common  in  liturgical  and  extemporaneous 
prayers — an  attempt  to  make  the  devotions  of  the  Church  a  means  of  indoc- 
trinating the  worshippers  in  a  sectarian  creed,  is  sufficient  to  recommend  it  to 
attention. 

But  the  public  are  particularly  called  to  notice  the  holy  object  which  it  has  in 
view.  The  purpose  of  the  church  is  to  provide  a  Liturgy  which  shall  compre- 
hend those  doctrines,  and  those  only,  which  are  essential  to  guide  the  mind  in  a 
right  worship  of  God.  It  is  obvious  that  men  who  differ  as  to  the  origin  of  sin, 
or  as  to  the  precise  nature  of  the  atonement,  may  nevertheless  equally  love  God, 
and  may  be  alike  grateful  to  him  for  his  mercy,  and  desire  his  approval,  and  seek 
his  will,  and  adore  his  infinite  perfections.  They  may  differ  on  many  theological 
questions,  and  yet  may  have  the  same  sentiments  of  devout  trust  and  reverential 
gratitude,  and  may  equally  feel  the  need  of  Divine  help.  If  they  may  thus  agree 
in  what  is  essential  to  devotion,  why  may  they  not  unite  in  religious  worship  ? 
If  they  will  abstain  from  obtruding  into  the  act  of  worship  those  theological 
speculations  which  have  no  necessary  connection  with  it,  why  may  they  not  bow 
together  before  that  God  which  they  all  adore  ? 

The  Liturgy  of  the  Church  of  America  professes  only  to  give  expressions  to 
those  feelings  which  should  be  in  man's  heart  when  he  looks  up  to  God.  It 
would  leave  the  theological  questions  on  which  sects  divide  to  be  settled  by  ench 
individual  in  his  own  way,  while  it  would  draw  all  Christian  people  together  in 
the  sentiment  and  offices  of  devotion. 

The  Christian  Liturgy,  published  in  1847,  for  the  Church  of  America,  is  based 
on  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer  used  by  the  Episcopal  Church,  or  Church  of 
England,  in  this  country:  much  is  added  to  the  devotional  part,  and  more  sub- 
tracted from  the  doctrinal  part,  and  it  approaches  considerably  to  the  Chapel 
Liturgy  published  in  1785. 

Heads  of  families,  and  teachers  of  religion  proposing  to  minister  the  Gospel  to 
the  numerous  societies  of  Christians  among  us,  are  solicited  to  examine  this  book 
with  care,  and  to  accept  or  reject  it  according  to  their  individual  judgments ;  and 
it  is  respectfully  suggested  to  those  who  approve  of  its  design,  to  read  the  several 
services  therein  put  forth,  on  all  occasions  where  their  hearers  are  of  different 
religious  creeds,  or  of  antagonistic  opinions ;  and  by  so  doing  their  labors  will 
tend  to  promote  peace,  good  will,  and  brotherhood,  and  greatly  contribute  to  the 
usefulness  of  the  Church  of  America. 


PLEASE  TO    READ  THI9. 

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AND 

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of  human  knowledge,  relating  to 

SCIENCE,  HISTORY,  BIOGRAPHY,  LITERATURE,  AND  THE  ARTS, 

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An  illustrated  work  comprising  a  fine  series  of  embellishments,  with  interesting  descrip- 
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taining Knowledge,  condensed  in  form,  familiar  in  style,  copious  in  information,  embracing  an 
extensive  range  of  subjects.  The  Engravings  (over  200  in  number)  are  strictly  illustrative, 
being  representations  of  actual  Scenery,  Costumes,  Manners,  Monuments,  <Scc.,  &c. 

I5T  On  examination  the  above  work  will  be  pronounced  by  every  intelligent  person,  nnder 
whose  observation  it  may  come,  as  one  of  the  most  suitable  presents  for  a  father  to  present 
to  his  family,  as  regards  both  the  quality  and  number  of  its  embellishments,  and  the  pure 
character  of  its  contents.  In  preparing  every  article  for  its  pages,  the  greatest  caution  has 
been  used,  to  admit  nothing  but  of  an  amusing  and  instructive  character. 


THE  HISTORY  OF  PALESTINE, 

From  the  Patriarchal  Age  to  the  Present  Time. 

BY  JOHN  KITTO,  Editor  of  the  London  Pictorial  Bible,  etc.,  etc. 

A  cheap  edition  has  been  prepared  for  the  mails,  in  paper  covers.     Two  copies  will  be  sent 
for  $1 ;  five  copies  for  $2.     It  is  a  valuable  present  for  parents  to  make  to  their  children. 


JUST    PUBLISHED, 

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W(D    MUJ  H  ]B)  IB  IB  TO)    EH(BIB 


TO  ALL  PERSONS  INTERESTED  IN  THE  DIFFUSION  OF  USEFUL  KNOWLEDGE, 

A  Book  for  the  Wives  and  Children  of  the  Farmer,  Mechanic,  Laborer,  Physician,  Lawyer,  and 
Divine — -for  Persons  in  every  sphere  and  station  of  Life,  and  for  Followers  of  every  Pursuit — 

For  Public,  Private,  and  District  School  Libraries. 


PICTORIAL 


of  the 


Has  been  prepared  with  great  care,  and  at  an  afismous  expense,  combining  the  useful  with  the  agreea- 
ble, the  solid  with  the  ornamental  ;  and  designed,  by  replacing  the  cheap  trash  which  overruns  the  coun- 
try, to  disseminate,  broadcast,  the  seeds  of  virtue  and  religion  —  to  extend  far  and  wide  the  roots  of  a  true 
and  lofty  patriotism  —  to  supply  literary  food  of  a  moral,  attractive,  and  useful  character  —  and,  by  making 
good  citizens  of  the  rising  generation,  to  throw  a  firm  bulwark  around  our  free  and  noble  institutions. 


mong  the  numerous  favorable  notices  of  the  work,  we  can  find  room  on  this  page  for  but  the  fol- 
lowing-, from  THE  NEW  YORK  TRIBUNE  :  — 


As  will  be  seen  by  the  title,  this  work  is  very  compre- 
hensive. The  author  has  given,  in  the  pleasant  style  for 
which  he  is  so  widely  celebrated,  as  good  a  view  of  Amer- 
ican institutions,  government,  laws,  people,  statistics,  and 
other  minutiae  of  political  and  social  life,  as  could  be  de- 
sired—condensed into  a  handsome  volume  of  over  six 
hundred  pages. 

Chroniclers  of  American  history  can  readily  gather  rich 
materials  for  an  interesting  narration.  Treating  of  this 
topic,  the  volume  before  us  contains  this  eminently  true 
passage : — 

"The  History  of  America  has  not,  like  that  of  the  Old 
World,  the  charm  of  classical  or  romantic  associations ; 
but  in  useful  instruction  and  moral  dignity,  it  has  no 

equal Our  Puritan  forefathers  began  in  the  rough 

fields  of  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  and  Connecticut, 
on  abroad,  comprehensive  principle,  which  has  gone  forth 
to  fraternize  the  world.  Our  history,  therefore,  like  that 
poetical  temple  of  fame  reared  by  the  imagination  of 
Chaucer,  and  decorated  by  the  taste  of  Pope,  is  almost 
exclusively  dedicated  to  the  memory  of  the  truly  great." 

Although  our  space  is  extremely  limited,  we  must  make 
room  for  a  paragraph  or  two  farther  :— 

"What  a  change  has  the  progress  of  Civilization  effect- 
ed on  this  vast  continent  during  the  last  two  centuries  ; 
and  what  a  glorious  change  to  the  enlightened  mind  I 
Then,  a  few  ill-constructed  roads,  and  the  water-courses 
nature  had  bestowed.  Wi^re  our  only  means  of  intercom- 
munication ;  now,  about  six  thousand  miles  of  railway, 
and  numerous  canals,  which  embrace,  in  continuous  lines 
of  navigation,  thirty  thousand  miles  of  lake  and  river, 
render  the  most  northern  corner  of  Maine  nearer  in  time 
to  Florida  and  Mexico,  than  was  Boston  to  Charleston  in 
those  days.  Steam  and  the  Magnetic  Telegraph  have  an- 
nihilated distance.  A  few  years  ago.  and  the  majestic  for- 
est spread  its  wing  far  and  wide,  and  the  Indian  was  the 
monarch  of  Nature — traversing  its  wilds  with  spear  and 
bow,  or  navigating  its  lakes  with  his  bark  canoe.  What 
were  once  gloomy  forests  are  now  beautiful  villages  and 
populous  cities,  teeming  with  industrious  and  intelligent 
inhabitants,  ministering  to  the  wants  of  the  mother-coun- 
try. Our  vaK  prairies  are  now  becoming  thrifty  farms, 
and  the  produce  of  every  climate  smiles  upon  our  shores. 
The  application  of  steam  to  various  purposes  has  pro- 


duced wonderful  results — America  and  England  are  now 
within  a  twelve  days'  voyage,  and  China  will,  in  fifty 
years,  be  comparatively  as  near  as  England  now  is — the 
whole  world  will  yet  be  neighbors  to  each  other,  and 
PEACE  AND  GOOD  WILL  universally  prevail  among  man- 
kind." 

"  In  the  preparation  of  the  following  work,  we  have 
found  new  reason  to  admire  the  rapid  progress  of  our 
own  country  in  population,  the  arts,  and  the  various  insti- 
tutions which  accompany  and  promote  civilization,  mor- 
als, and  religion,  as  well  as  national  extension,  wealth,  and 
power.  Great  pains  have  been  taken,  and  expense  in- 
curred, to  introduce  some  of  the  most  important,  appro- 
priate, and  interesting  scenes,  sketches  of  character,  and 
other  matters  embraced  in  the  wide  surface  of  the  Amer- 
ican Union The  general  good  of  the  country  de- 
mands a  mutual  acquaintance  between  the  citizens  in  all 
parts  of  it.  If  ignorant  of  each  other's  condition,  the  peo- 
ple of  the  different  states  can  not  feel  that  high  and  just 
regard  for  each  other  which  is  essential  to  the  existence 
of  a  strong  spirit  of  brotherhood.  The  general  diffusion 
of  accurate  knowledge,  respecting  all  parts  of  the  coun- 
try, is  therefore  to  be  esteemed  as  an  important  public 
object,  as  it  is  one  of  the  principal  means  to  secui  e  that 

great  end All  history,  however,  is  only  useful  so 

far  as  we  are  guided  by  a  knowledge  of  past  experience. 
Rational  liberty,  and  the  expansive  genius  of  self-govern- 
ment, have  so  far  made  us  united  and  powerful.  To  the 
people  who  are  qualified  by  correct  habits  and  self-disci- 
pline to  love  and  respect  the  free  institutions  of  our  land, 
Liberty  is  what  the  sun  is  to  the  earth — light,  life,  and  in- 
finite progression.  Intellectual,  apart  from  moral  cul- 
ture, is,  however,  to  be  feared  rather  than  encouraged  ; 
it  teaches,  indeed,  how  to  rear,  but  is  powerless  to  per- 
petuate." 

These  random  extracts  give  a  very  fair  idea  of  the  sub- 
ject-matter of  the  work,  and  the  manner  in  which  it  is 
treated.  Each  State,  including  Texas  and  Orecon,  has  a 
general  description,  with  illustrations  of  remarkable  sce- 
nery or  events,  together  with  notes  of  its  commerce  and 
various  facilities.  All  this  constitutes  a  very  valuable  and 
entertaining  volume,  which  we  hope  to  see  widely  dis- 
seminated. Every  American  ought  at  least  to  understand 
the  history  of  his  own  country,  and  nowhere  can  a  bet 
ter  general  idea  be  obtained  than  here. 


J 


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With  a  Descriptive  Account  of  those  Countries  and  their  Inhabitants,  from  the  earliest  period  of 
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Events,  but  also  of  the  Manners,  Customs,  Religion,  Literature,  and  Domestic  Habits  of  the  Peo- 
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The  EMBELLISHMENTS  are  about  two  hundred,  and  of  the  first  order,  illustrating  whatever  is  pe- 
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Commercial  Pursuits,  Arts,  &c.  They  are  accurate,  and  each  one  has  been  made  expressly  for  the  work. 
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